Former England and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has been suspended from all football-related activity until June 18 (NZ time) for breaching gambling regulations.
The 30-year-old was handed a two-week suspension from football and a NZ$147,000 fine back in June, after an independent regulatory commission found he had given his brother inside information on a possible move to Sevilla during the January 2018 transfer window.
At the time, the English FA revealed it had appealed against the regulatory commission's findings, as well as the sanctions handed down, believing them to be too lenient.
And an independent appeal board has now found that the regulatory commission misapplied the FA's rules in relation to the use of inside information and made findings of fact that could not be sustained.
The appeal board has therefore proven two further charges and agreed with the FA that the penalty originally imposed on Sturridge was unduly lenient, and increased his effective playing ban from two weeks to four months.
His fine has also been doubled to NZ$295,000 and FIFA has confirmed that the suspension will be of worldwide effect.
Earlier, Sturridge mutually terminated his contract at Turkish side Trabzonspor on Tuesday (NZ time), and the forward will not be allowed to participate in any football or football-related activity until June 18.
Reuters
