Daniel Sturridge joined West Brom on loan during the January transfer window.GETTY IMAGES
A blue-collar worker based in the Midlands reportedly "placed a five-figure bet on Daniel Sturridge's club movements during the period in which the Liverpool striker is being investigated for allegedly passing on gambling information," according to Tom Morgan of the London TELEGRAPH. The man, "from a modest background, wagered the huge bet" on the England player joining Inter Milan on loan during last January's transfer window. Just days later, however, Sturridge "instead joined West Brom for the remainder of the season." Given the "spectacular failure of the bet, there is no suggestion that Sturridge was involved," but the transaction "startled bosses at a leading bookmaker" who suspected the gambler "might have obtained what he believed was insider information." The FA "has refused to confirm whether it is considering the bet in relation to its investigation into Sturridge for alleged gambling breaches" (TELEGRAPH, 11/13).
TIME FOR A CHANGE?: REUTERS' Hardik Vyas reported former Man City midfielder Joey Barton said that the FA should alter its "zero-tolerance" approach to gambling in football after Sturridge was charged with alleged breaches of betting rules. Barton, who himself served a 13-month ban for betting offenses while he was playing for Burnley, "believes gambling is ingrained in English football culture" and punishing players is just the "tip of the iceberg." He said, "They have to revise their approach. There's a lot of people who have vested interest in promoting and advertising gambling. I don't think it's a problem with that" (REUTERS, 11/14).
