Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis has been charged for misconduct in relation to betting, the Football Association (FA) has announced.
An FA statement read: "It is alleged the player committed 12 breaches of FA Rule E8 concerning football matches between 22 January 2016 and 28 January 2016."
Manchester City's Martin Demichelis has been charged for misconduct in relation to bettinghttps://t.co/zjaS1bOUqm pic.twitter.com/yejxJO20YJ
- The FA (@FA) March 30, 2016
Demichelis, who has made 29 appearances for Manchester City this season, has until 5pm on April 5 to respond to the charge.
A worldwide ban on betting on football came into force on August 1, 2014 for all those involved in the game.
Demichelis told ESPN Deportes in Buenos Aires on Wednesday that he will be able to say more once he meets with club officials.
"Obviously I can't avoid the subject, but I hope everyone understands that later I will be able to talk more after I speak to the club lawyers," he said. "I hope it is nothing serious and is something that can be resolved quickly."
Rule E8 states: "A Participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on - (i) the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in, a football match or competition; or (ii) any other matter concerning or related to football anywhere in the world, including, for example and without limitation, the transfer of players, employment of managers, team selection or disciplinary matters."
Players are also banned from knowingly providing inside information to any other person for the purpose of betting and from promoting betting activity.
City are making no comment on the matter but PA Sport reports that the alleged offences do not relate to any matches over which Demichelis could have had an influence.
Demichelis said he understood that the rules are not the same in all leagues.
"Things are different in each place," he told ESPN. "In Spain, this is allowed [betting on matches outside of one's own], or it was just prohibited. But once I can get informed with the lawyers I will speak with much more certainty than at this moment. I have no problem telling the truth, I am not one to hide."
The Argentina international is not the first Premier League footballer to be charged with breaking betting rules.
Newcastle winger Andros Townsend, then at Tottenham, was given a four-month ban, three of which were suspended, and an £18,000 fine in 2013.
The same year striker Cameron Jerome, then of Stoke, was fined £50,000 after admitting repeatedly breaching the regulations while then Newcastle midfielder Dan Gosling was fined £30,000 in 2014.
Demichelis has made 29 appearances for City this season and played 90 minutes for Argentina in their World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia on Tuesday.
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.