The FA wanted Daniel Sturridge banned from football for at least six months for breaches of betting regulations and will now appeal against a decision that actually allows him to return to playing on July 31 this year.
It was confirmed on Thursday that the former England striker, who is currently without a club having been released recently by Liverpool, has been hit by an independent regulatory commission with a £75,000 fine and a six week suspension, four weeks of which are suspended until August 2020.
That means Sturridge is available to any potential suitors almost immediately despite being found guilty of providing his brother with inside information, with the purpose of placing a bet, on a possible loan move to Seville in January last year.