Exclusive: Why the FA may have just held specific talks with Everton after new controversy
Everton have been at the centre of controversy during the international break with Martin Sherif.
The young forward has been punished after being charged with placing 61 bets over a 15-month period.
Sherif has officially been sanctioned by the FA on Thursday.
Somewhat surprisngly, the Everton talent has only been fined, managing to avoid sporting sanctions all together.
Sherif will now pay £5,000, with his youth, early admittance and co-operation all helping his cause.
Was Martin Sherif lucky with this outcome?
Many expected a serious ban to be handed down, especially given some recent examples of betting charges.
Keith Hackett has reiterated that message, admitting that the FA and their officers will have spoken to Everton directly, before meeting with their players, too.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News, the ex-FIFA official shared what he expects to have happened during this case.
"He probably has received support from his club who may have failed to advise him that gambling on football is banned," Hackett said.
"He is fortunate to have receive a fine and not a ban.
"I am sure that The FA will have had a conversation with Everton that may have resulted in their officers dealing with these situations speaking to the players."
What could punishment have been?
Nearly every single one of these cases has resulted in a ban.
The most obvious case studies have been Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali in recent English football history.
Tonali, while at Newcastle, was banned for 10 months in total.
Toney was banned for 11 months at first, but that was reduced to eight months, but that was for over 200 breaches.
When taking into account his age and the possible learning curve from this, the FA appear to have been lenient to try and use this as a teaching exercise.
With a fine also in place, Sherif hasn't got away with it and will have learned from this so-called slap on the wrist.
This is an issue that appears to be growing in football, though, and the FA need to get a hold of it before it continues.