England and Atletico Madrid player found breaking betting rules

Kieran Trippier was found guilty of breaking betting rules this week in a personal hearing with a Football Association panel.

The offences took place in July last year after Trippier joined Atletico from Tottenham Hotspur. The player denied a total of seven alleged breaches, but four were proven to be true after investigations.

The ban relates to rule E8(1)(b), which states: “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.”

From this, it is not explicitly clear whether Trippier used his position to intentionally fix matches. This news is similar to the situation in October in which seven esports athletes were found betting on their own matches.

The punishment is effective immediately and comprises a 10-week worldwide football ban and a £70,000 fine – a small sum for a player earning an estimated £4 million per year. 

This means he will miss 12 games for La Liga leaders Atletico, including their Champions League last-16 first leg tie at home to Chelsea on 23 February. Though Atletico fans fear not, he will be back playing right back in time for the Madrid derby on 7 March.