Adam Johnson has lost a Court of Appeal challenge against his conviction for sexual activity with a schoolgirl.
The 29-year-old, who previously played for Sunderland, was jailed for six years last March for sexually touching and grooming the 15-year-old fan.
Johnson was refused a bid to appeal against his conviction and sentence in July but launched a second appeal towards the end of last year, when the judgement to allow it was reversed.
However, a panel of three judges who heard the appeal turned down Johnson's latest bid, Mr Justice Sweeney handing down the ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Thursday.
Johnson admitted to grooming the girl and one charge of sexual activity before his trial at Bradford Crown Court last year, with jurors also finding him guilty of sexual touching, but not guilty on a charge relating to another sexual act.
Giuseppe Labellarte
