TRIPPIER TOLD PALS TO ‘LUMP ON’ SPAIN MOVE

KIERAN TRIPPIER told friends to ‘lump on’ his pending move to Atletico Madrid in the days before his Tottenham exit, it emerged yesterday. It was also revealed that Trippier rejected the offer to have his personal hearing over FA betting charges delayed, a decision that caused him to miss England’s game against Denmark in October. Trippier was handed a 10-week worldwide ban last month for breaching FA betting regulations when moving to Atletico from Spurs in July 2019. The FA have now released the written reasons for Trippier’s charge and subsequent ban, which has since been suspended by FIFA pending an appeal driven by Atletico — a move that could cause the full back to miss this summer’s European Championship. It was revealed yesterday that Trippier sent friends a series of WhatsApp messages, prompting a string of bets from their recipients. On July 14, three days before his move to Atletico was confirmed,

Trippier was asked by a friend: ‘Shall I lump on you going there (Madrid)?’ Trippier replied: ‘Can do mate.’ The friend continued: ‘100% Tripps?’. Trippier replied: ‘Yeah mate,’ before adding, ‘Lump on if you want mate.’ Details of the messages were included in the 46-page document published by the FA yesterday, whose regulatory commission said the messages ‘very strongly’ suggested that a friend would bet on the move. ‘We simply do not accept that these messages would be read by KT (Trippier) as “banter”,’ the commission said. Trippier later sent a message that read: ‘It’s happening.’ This resulted in further bets — including one for £300 the day before his exit. England manager Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane, as well as Burnley boss Sean Dyche, provided character references for Trippier (left) during the hearing.