Kieran Trippier BANNED for betting rule breach and will miss Chelsea tie as Atletico and England star faces 10 weeks out
KIERAN TRIPPIER has been banned for 10 weeks and hit with a £70,000 fine for breaching betting rules.
The Atletico Madrid and England right-back will miss the Champions League first leg showdown with Chelsea in February.
His 10-week ban starts immediately and is due to end in the first week of March.
That means he could feature in the second leg against Frank Lampard's men on March 17.
The ban is a massive blow for Atletico Madrid's title hopes with Diego Simeone's men currently top of LaLiga.
Trippier, 30, will miss 11 domestic matches but could return for the Madrid derby set for March 7.
An FA statement read: "Kieran Trippier has been suspended for ten weeks and fined £70,000, following misconduct in relation to breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
The Atletico Madrid defender denied seven alleged breaches of FA Rule E8(1)(b), which were said to occur during July 2019, and requested a personal hearing.
"An independent regulatory commission was appointed to hear the case, with four of the alleged breaches found proven and three dismissed during a subsequent personal hearing.
"The independent regulatory commission’s written reasons for its decisions and the associated sanction will be published in due course.
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"The suspension, which includes all football and football-related activity, is effective worldwide from today (Wednesday 23 December 2020) following an application to FIFA."
Trippier joined Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2019 in a £20million deal from Tottenham.
He signed a three-year deal in the Spanish capital and has made 25 international appearances for England.
Atletico Madrid are three points clear of local rivals and reigning champions Real Madrid with a game in hand.