Professional Footballers' Association CEO Gordon Taylor retains the "full support" of the PFA in the wake of allegations that he has amassed substantial gambling debts, according to the PA. The allegations appeared to place Taylor's position at the head of the union in doubt, "but in a statement released on Thursday afternoon, the PFA has indicated that is not going to happen." The statement said, "The management committee are aware of the recent press allegations regarding Gordon Taylor. Whilst this is a private matter for Gordon, he has informed us that this dispute has been in the hands of lawyers for some time." Taylor himself is yet to speak on the matter, although given the regularity with which he is required to comment on playing matters, "that is not a stance which could realistically last for any significant length of time" (PA, 8/29). REUTERS' Josh Reich wrote the 68-year-old Taylor has recently spoken about the "social responsibility" of his members and called for zero tolerance towards gambling, as well as highlighting its dangers for players. The PFA recently fined and suspended Tottenham's Andros Townsend "for breaching betting regulations." EPL side Stoke City's Cameron Jerome was also fined £50,000 ($77,400) "for admitting a breach of the rules" (REUTERS, 8/29).
