Notts County Defender Lewis Macari Faces Betting Rule Violation Charge

The Football Association has formally accused Lewis Macari, a defender for Notts County, of violating betting regulations during nearly three years. Macari, 23 and a grandson of former Manchester United midfielder Lou Macari, is alleged to have placed 354 bets on football matches from February 2020 to December 2022.

Despite the allegations, the club confirmed they are supporting Macari throughout the investigation and have chosen not to comment further at this stage. The betting violations reportedly occurred before Macari transferred from Stoke City, initially on loan, to Notts County in 2023. Macari’s earlier tenure at Stoke included only one senior appearance after multiple loan spells.

The club released an image of Macari, emphasizing their support amid the investigation.

Macari, who has also played for Scotland at the Under-18 level, has been given until July 18 to respond to the FA’s charge. Last season, he made 33 league appearances for Notts County, who finished sixth in League Two before losing in the playoff semi-final to AFC Wimbledon.

This is not the first case of betting misconduct in the league this year. Former Cheltenham and Shrewsbury striker Ryan Bowman received a ban of over three years after placing 6,397 bets over eight years. Additionally, Wimbledon forward Osman Foyo was charged last week for placing bets on matches over 252 occasions between October 2023 and March 2025.