Kieran Trippier’s move to Atletico Madrid was one of the surprises of the 2019 summer transfer window.
It would be fair to say that nobody had any money on it. Well, except maybe for Trippier himself. *Allegedly*.
The former Tottenham defender has been charged with misconduct by the FA for allegedly breaching betting rules.
Sky Sports understands that the charges relate to activity surrounding the 29-year-old’s £21.7m switch from Spurs to Atletico.
Although this Spurs fan on Twitter has another theory…
Definitely had Ziyech to score anytime the way he fell over for the second goal. Stupid egg.
— 🇮🇱 (@N17yids1) May 1, 2020
An FA statement, not to be confused with a postdoctoral algebra equation, such is its volume of numbers and brackets read: “Kieran Trippier has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules, specifically in relation to Rule E8(1)(a)(ii) and Rule E8(1)(b), during the period of July 2019. He has until 18 May 2020 to provide a response.
“Rule E8(1)(a): a participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on – (i) the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition; or (ii) any other matter concerning or related to football anywhere in the world, including, for example, and without limitation, the transfer of players, employment of managers, team selection or disciplinary matters.
“Rule E8(1)(b): where a participant provides to any other person any information relating to football which the participant has obtained by virtue of his or her position within the game and which is not publicly available at that time, the participant shall be in breach of this Rule where any of that information is used by that other person for, or in relation to, betting.”
The England international has until May 18 to answer the charges but has already issued a statement denying any wrongdoing in relation to betting activity as a professional footballer.
“I have fully complied with the FA’s investigation over the past several months on a voluntary basis and will continue to do so,” Trippier said.
“I want to make it clear that while a professional footballer, I have at no stage placed any football-related bets or received any financial benefit from others betting.”
Precedent suggests that Trippier could be banned from football for six weeks and fined £75,000 if the charges stick; the same penalties handed to Daniel Sturridge last year, as Sky Sports details.
