Trippier’s 10-week bets ban
ATLETICO MADRID are fuming after Kieran Trippier was hit by a 10-week ban for breaching betting rules.
The Spanish club – who will lose the England defender (above) for at least 12 games, including the Champions League last-16 first leg against Chelsea – are furious that they did not learn about the FA ban until yesterday afternoon. And they were claiming last night that they had still not been officially informed.
Trippier, who was also fined £70,000, is not expected to appeal, or to be hit by any further punishment by Atletico. But the Spanish club last night suggested they would not recognise the ban
Trippier, in the recent Madrid derby, will be banned until the return on March 7 because of the confusion over communication, which puts Trippier in an awkward position.
The charges against the full-back relate to bets placed around the time of his £20million move to Atletico from Tottenham in July 2019.
Many bookies offer odds on transfer moves – for instance, Manchester City are 7-2 to be Lionel Messi’s next club – and a switch to Spain for Trippier would have been attractively priced.
The defender denied the charges, which were made in May, and said he did not place any bets himself or profit from bets made by others.
But the FA ruled that some of Trippier’s friends benefited from bets placed following conversations with him on WhatsApp.
Trippier had a personal hearing in October. An independent commission was appointed to hear the case and has upheld four of an initial seven charges against him.
His first game back is now set to be the Madrid derby against bitter rivals Real on March 7 – and he will be available for England’s World Cup qualifiers in March and the Euros.
Trippier, 30, is the only outfield player at the club to have played every minute in La Liga so far this season.
The FA statement read: “The Atletico Madrid defender denied seven alleged breaches of FA Rule E8(1)(b), which were said to occur during July 2019, and requested a personal hearing.
“An independent commission was appointed to hear the case, with four of the alleged breaches found proven and three dismissed during a subsequent personal hearing.”
FA rules state that players cannot place a bet relating to football or provide relevant confidential information to anyone who might profit. The FA’s case was that some of Trippier’s friends benefited from bets placed following conversations with the player on WhatsApp.
Former England striker Daniel Sturridge (above) served a fourmonth ban and was fined £150,000 after contravening betting rules following a loan move from Liverpool in January 2018.
Trippier, who captained England in their friendly win against Wales in October, has been capped 25 times and played a major role in the run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.