Daniel Sturridge has been hit with a four-month ban from all football worldwide following a successful appeal from the FA over his breach of betting rules.
The former Liverpool striker’s contract with Trabzonspor was terminated by mutual consent on Monday and he will not be able to play for another club until June 18.
He was initially given a £75,000 fine and a six-week ban (four of which were suspended) last July after it emerged he had used ‘cynical determination’ to help others place bets.
The FA immediately appealed, arguing that anything shorter than a six-month ban for the player would ‘wholly fail to reflect the gravity of the case’.
And eight-months later, their appeal has been successful, with Sturridge’s fine also doubled to £150,000.
A statement read: “The Appeal Board agreed with The FA that the penalty originally imposed on Mr Sturridge was unduly lenient and therefore increased his effective playing ban from two weeks to four months. The Appeal Board also doubled the fine to £150,000.
“FIFA has confirmed that the suspension will be of worldwide effect.”
Sturridge was initially found guilty of just two of the eleven charges held against him – and his increased punishment comes after the Appeal Board proved a further two.
The original case against Sturridge related to information he gave his brother over a possible move to Sevilla during the January 2018 transfer window.
Sturridge ended up joining West Brom for the second half of the 2017/18 campaign when a move to Sevilla broke down.
