The Football Association’s (FA) appeal to extend Kieran Tripper’s match suspension for betting violations has been unsuccessful.
As a result the Atlético Madrid and England national team defender can resume playing in La Liga fixtures from 28 February, it has been confirmed.
Trippier was handed a 10 week match ban by the FA after it came to light he had encouraged friends in a WhatsApp group to ‘lump on’ bets on his £20 million transfer to Atlético Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, which at the time had not yet been officially announced.
Although the ban was made global by FIFA, Atlético Madrid appealed and the world governing body paused the suspension after just two weeks, allowing Trippier to play against Sevilla on Tuesday, which Atlético won 2-0.
Further delays can be expected if FIFA rejects the appeal, as Atléltico could take the matter to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The FA’s appeal was launched to its own independent regulatory commission, with the intention of revising the dates of the ban whilst FIFA considers whether or not to suspend the sentence globally as well as in Spain.
However, the commission rejected the appeal, and has stated that Trippier is: ‘entitled to think these long drawn-out proceedings had been finalised and that as from the end of February 2021 he could begin a new chapter’.
In addition, the commission called Trippier “blameless” and described the ban as potentially “impeding his prospects of being transferred to an English club during the current transfer window.
“If the defender were to return to England he would have to serve the remainder of the ban, casting doubt on rumours of a transfer to Manchester United.
“We accept that the suspension is probably having a deleterious effect upon [Trippier’s] transfer prospects,’ the FA said.
“There is a very real benefit to football worldwide in resolving as quickly as possible whether it is open to clubs to intervene as [Atlético Madrid] has done in this case in the absence of its player’s consent and, indeed, against his wishes when such intervention might be viewed as frustrating the outcome of national disciplinary processes and the ability of FIFA to give effect to those outcomes worldwide.”
Despite being unable to play for an English side, Trippier will be free to play against Chelsea at London’s Stamford Bridge stadium in a Champions League clash on 17 March.