Tottenham midfielder Andros Townsend has been suspended by the English Football Association and fined £18,000 subject to an appeal.

“At an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Tottenham Hotspur’s Andros Townsend was suspended from all football and football activity for a period of four months, subject to any appeal, backdated to the 23 May 2013 when the player voluntarily withdrew from the England Under-21 squad,” read the statement from The FA.

“However, three months of the suspension is suspended until 1 July 2016 and will be automatically invoked upon a proven breach of The FA Betting Rules during that period. Townsend, who was also fined £18,000, was charged for breaches of FA Rule E8(b) for misconduct in relation to betting, which he admitted and requested a personal hearing.”

The ball is in Townsend’s court to see whether he decides to appeal the sanctioning or not.