The English Football Association is 'oblivious' of match-fixing problems within football, according to Joey Barton.

The 34-year old received an 18-month ban after he was found to have made 1,260 bets on football over a period of 12 years.

However, the former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder believes the problem with gambling goes further than individual player bets, and instead, extends to the point where matches are being fixed.

"Five or six times every season you hear on the grapevine, "This has happened, that has happened, there's going to be a [fixed] game. In the English pyramid," Barton told The Times.

"You hear the results and you're, like, "Yeah." 'It's what happens if you allow people not getting paid and clubs going into administration. All of a sudden people get desperate. [Fixing] is an evil the FA are oblivious to.

"We only know about the games that have been highlighted, where someone couldn't keep their mouth shut, but how many more are there?"

"They didn't know about me and I was betting in plain view for 12 years. "So, I'd have to ask are they equipped to know? And do they want to know?"