Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has been banned from playing football for two weeks and fined £75,000 after being found guilty of breaching betting rules.

Sturridge, 29, was given a six-week ban, four of which were suspended, and is free to play again on 31 July.

The Football Association says it will appeal against the dismissal by an independent regulatory commission of various charges alleging he passed on inside information over a potential transfer in January 2018.

In its submissions to the commision, the FA argued the player had used “cynical determination” to help betting by others and any sanction shorter than a six-month suspension “would wholly fail to reflect the gravity of the case.”

Liverpool announced in June that Sturridge – who scored eight times in 26 appearances for England – would be leaving the club this summer at the end of his contract.

Reacting to the commission’s findings, he said the past 15 months had been “very tough”.

“I am pleased that nine of the 11 charges were dismissed and that the panel found me to be an honest and credible witness, and that my actions on one particularly difficult day were out of character,” he said.

“The case was heard over seven days by a distinguished panel, which resulted in a lengthy and carefully considered decision, and followed an extensive investigation by the FA. It is therefore extremely disappointing to hear that the FA will be appealing this decision. I will continue to defend the case and the appeal.

“I am training hard and fully focused on the upcoming football season.”