O’Neill the hero as Rovers strike late to win Europa thriller
FA wants long ban for striker
THE FA are furious after Daniel Sturridge was banned yesterday for just six weeks, despite evidence he provided his family with inside betting information on an impending transfer.
The FA wanted Sturridge banned for at least six months for breaches of betting regulations and will appeal against a suspension that allows him to resume playing in 12 days.
It was confirmed yesterday that the former England striker, without a club after being released by Liverpool, has been fined £75,000 and banned for six weeks, with four suspended, by an independent commission.
The evidence, handed over to investigators by Sturridge, showed the 29-yearold had provided his brother with inside information regarding a possible loan move to Sevilla in January last year.
There were conversations between Sturridge and other family members and friends about possible moves away from Anfield in January 2018. The messages often included references to betting and odds. Had they been successful in placing all the bets, bookmakers would have lost more than £300,000.
In one WhatsApp message to his brother Leon, Sturridge said: ‘Put the grand on Sevilla I’ll give it you back if you lose. But wait until 6pm. They’re having their meeting at 3 so will know for sure my outcome after that.’
Detailed in the evidence was also the fact that Anthon Walters, the cousin of Sturridge’s father, tried to place a bet with Paddy Power for £13,830 on the player moving to Inter Milan. The bet was rejected.
The evidence continued: ‘However, shortly after 2am Anthon succeeded in placing a bet for £10,000 on the same transfer at odds of 17/10.’
Eighty-three other bets were placed or attempted to be placed on Sturridge moving to Inter Milan around that time. The Inter Milan bets were placed prior to Sturridge’s representatives meeting the Italian club. A deal was not concluded.
The Sevilla bet was never placed, with Sturridge claiming he had separately made it clear he was not happy that he was being nagged for the information and was therefore against any betting.
The FA’s case concluded that betting on Sturridge’s potential moves was a ‘family affair’ with ‘Daniel Sturridge providing the inside information, Leon using his contacts to ascertain the best available odds and his father Michael Sturridge liaising with Anthon in order for the bets to be placed’.
It seems they were not terribly successful. ‘The total sum wagered by those connected directly or indirectly to Mr Sturridge (“the connected bettors”) was £13,755.82, returning £10,762.56,’ the commission stated.
‘In addition, the connected bettors attempted to place bets worth £20,560 on Mr Sturridge’s potential transfer moves.
‘These bets were refused. Had they been accepted, however, and had they been successful, these bets would have returned a further £317,006.
‘Even if Mr Sturridge did not know that the inside information was being used in this way, the FA submitted that he ought reasonably to have known that it would be. This is particularly so in relation to his brother, Leon, who was a frequent recipient of the inside information in question.’
After an eight-month investigation, the FA believed they had a strong case, which Sturridge has strongly contested.