Sturridge denies ever betting on football despite FA charge

England and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for alleged breaches of its betting rules.

It is understood that the charge relates to Sturridge's loan move from Liverpool to West Bromwich Albion earlier this year, with the FA specifically mentioning "the period of January 2018" in its statement.

As well as gambling on games, the FA rules prohibit players from direct or indirect involvement in betting on any matter connected to football, including player transfers, managerial changes or team selection. They are also forbidden from passing on information which they have “obtained by virtue of his or her position within the game and which is not publicly available at that time” for any outside party to then use while placing a bet. It is understood that the case is likely to centre on whether information was knowingly passed on.

Sturridge, who has until 6pm on Tuesday Nov 20 to formally respond to the charge, has already told Liverpool that he has never gambled on football. The club have also stressed that Sturridge has cooperated fully with the FA’s enquiries and has assured them that he will continue to do so. Past precedents for proven breaches of FA betting rules have ranged from fines and warnings to lengthy suspensions.

Joey Barton is the highest profile recent case and was banned in 2017 for 18 months - later reduced by almost five months - for gambling on football, although this related to 1,260 bets over a 10-year period. Other players, such as Cameron Jerome and Dan Gosling, have been fined and warned over their future conduct but not suspended.

The FA refused to comment on the exact nature of Sturridge charge yesterday. Sturridge’s representative said that they had nothing further to add following Liverpool’s statement. “Daniel has given his full and unequivocal co-operation throughout this process and has assured the club he will continue to do so,” said the Liverpool statement.

"Daniel has also stated categorically that he has never gambled on football. As with any issue of this nature, we will allow the process to be concluded in its entirety before making any further comment."

Liverpool are understood to have been aware of the FA’s investigations for some time and the detail of what is a personal charge is being handled by the player and his representatives.

Sturridge has enjoyed something of a resurgence in form this season by scoring four goals in 12 appearances during Liverpool’s unbeaten start. He will continue to be available for selection in Jurgen Klopp’s team while the FA disciplinary process takes its course.

The charge against Sturridge is also likely to place added scrutiny on football’s relationship with betting. Almost 60 percent of clubs in English football’s top two divisions have the names of gambling companies on their shirts and betting companies advertise extensively around live football. Barton has said that there is “huge clash" between the rules and "culture that surrounds the modern game.” The FA pulled out of a sponsorship partnership with Ladbrokes Coral in 2017 but the English Football League’s main sponsor is Sky Bet. Liverpool’s training kit sponsor is BetVictor.

Sturridge spent the second half of last season at West Bromwich Albion after completing a loan move on Jan 29, but was then injured between February and April and unable to help them avoid relegation.

The 29-year-old has since scored in Liverpool matches this season against West Ham United, Paris St Germain and Chelsea, notably the spectacular Premier League equaliser at Stamford Bridge in September.

Sturridge had joined Liverpool from Chelsea in 2013 and went on to score 28 goals in the 2013-14 season when Liverpool went close to winning the Premier League. His form has since faltered amid injuries and he scored only 31 goals in the four subsequent seasons. The last of his 26 England games was against Lithuania in October 2017, but he has again been talked about this season as a potential option for Gareth Southgate’s squad.

The specific rules that Sturridge are alleged to have breached “during the period of January 2018” are E8(1)(a)(ii) and Rule E8(1)(b). They state that “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.” The rules go on to say that providing information to another person, “which is obtained by virtue of his or her position within the game and which is not publicly available at that time” is also a breach if that information is “used by that other person for, or in relation to, betting”.