Football news - FA hits Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge with betting misconduct charges

No specific details of the charges were published by the governing body - beyond the fact they relate to January of this year.

Sturridge, 29, joined West Brom on loan on January 29. A Football Association statement read:

"Daniel Sturridge has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules, specifically in relation to Rule E8(1)(a)(ii) and Rule E8(1)(b), during the period of January 2018. He has until 6pm on Tuesday 20 November 2018 to respond to the charge.

"Rule E8(1)(a) – 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.

"Rule E8(1)(b) – where a participant provides to any other person any information relating to football which the participant has obtained by virtue of his or her position within the game and which is not publicly available at that time, the participant shall be in breach of this Rule where any of that information is used by that other person for, or in relation to, betting."

Liverpool firmly stood by the player in a statement from a club spokesperson - insisting that Sturridge has never bet on football: