Tottenham winger Andros Towsend gets 4-month suspension in betting case

LONDON – Tottenham winger Andros Townsend has been banned from soccer for four months for violating betting rules.

He will, however, have to serve only one month provided his conduct is satisfactory from now until July 2016. The sanction was backdated to May 23 when Townsend withdrew from the England under-21 squad.

The Football Association also said Tuesday that Townsend was fined $27,000.

Townsend was charged with breaches "in relation to a number of betting offenses." There was no suggestion the charge related to match-fixing. Players are prohibited from betting on matches in competitions in which they are involved or have any influence.

Townsend spent the second half of last season on loan with Queens Park Rangers, who were relegated from the Premier League to the second tier.