UEFA warns Wilshere on betting tweets

UEFA's regulations forbid players from gambling on football matches in which their teams are involved and the England midfielder has now received an official warning.

A UEFA spokesman said: "We confirm that the player has received a warning by UEFA's control and disciplinary body."

The 20-year-old had said on Twitter that Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Frimpong was "worth a cheeky £10" to be the first scorer at long odds in the UEFA Champions League match against Olympiacos in December.

Wilshere, who was in the middle of a long injury absence, then said after a near miss by Frimpong: "Frimmy nearly won me some money there!"

He later insisted that he had only been joking, tweeting: "I didn't actually bet on the game. I know we're not allowed to! I was only messing just to be clear."