Former Liverpool, Chelsea and England striker Daniel Sturridge is the subject of an arrest warrant in the United States after failing to pay a reward for his missing dog, according to Metro UK.
Sturridge was handed the warrant for failing to appear in a Los Angeles court over the incident.
The 34-year-old had offered a reward to anyone who could safely return his pet dog Lucci in July 2019 after it was stolen from his house during a burglary in LA.
Foster Washington, an American rapper known as Killa Fame, reunited Sturridge with the dog but claimed that he never received a reward, which subsequently resulted in a civil lawsuit.
Sturridge was ordered to pay Washington $30,000 (£24,400) by an LA court and the former England international was due back for a ‘debtor’s exam’ last month to answer questions on his finances – but he did not turn up – resulting in the arrest warrant.
Washington, who claims to have spent over $10,000 [£8,100] on legal fees, told MailOnline: “For me, it’s a point of principle. He promised me the money. It’s a substantial amount of money that could change my family’s life.
“He thinks he is above the law. He thinks because he’s rich he doesn’t have to respond to what’s going on. That’s why I had to have the judge issue a warrant so he has to pay the money.”
Sturridge has previously claimed that a ‘young boy’ found Lucci and a reward was paid.
“Just to let you know the truth at Christmas. I met a young boy who found my dog and paid him a reward, which he was delighted with, as was I to get my dog back because he was stolen,” Sturridge posted on Twitter.
