Ivan Toney is braced for a lengthy ban after accepting multiple charges of breaching the Football Association’s betting rules.
The Brentford striker could miss several months after admitting to many, but not all, of the 262 charges made by the FA in November and December. The punishment would come as a significant blow to Toney, whose star continues to rise during a stellar season, and to a Brentford side that has made a surprise push towards the European spots.
Toney was first charged in November with conducting 232 breaches of the FA’s rule E8 between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The following month he was charged with breaching the same rule a further 30 times between 14 March 2017 and 18 February 2019. The alleged breaches began when Toney was a Newcastle player on loan at Scunthorpe, stretching to his current employment with the Bees.
Quick GuideIvan Toney ‘concerned’ about FA disciplinary process after ban speculation
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Brentford striker Ivan Toney says speculation relating to his impending disciplinary hearing on gambling-related charges has left him concerned about the process.
Toney is reported to be facing a ban of up to six months after being charged with a total of 262 breaches of the Football Association’s gambling laws that date back to 2017.
But Toney has hit out at the governing body over what he perceives to be potential lapses of confidentiality as he prepares to argue his case.
Toney wrote on his Instagram stories: “I was shocked and disappointed to see press speculation yesterday and today about the FA investigation process concerning me after I have been told by the FA that it is a confidential process until any decision has been made.
“It is especially disturbing for me to read that the FA is saying I shall be banned from football for six months before there has even been a hearing, and it does make me worried about the process.
“My lawyers will be writing to the FA to request that they conduct a leak inquiry as this is the second time stories have appeared in the newspapers – the last time was just before the selection of the England World Cup squad.
“As I continue to be told the investigation is mean to be confidential, I am unable to provide any further comment. I shall continue to concentrate on my football.” PA Media
Rule E8 bans players from betting on games, asking others to do so on their behalf or sharing privileged information for betting purposes. The Newcastle player Kieran Trippier, then with Atlético Madrid, was found guilty in December 2020 of violating it and was banned from all football-related activity for 10 weeks, also being fined £70,000.
Toney is expected to contest some of the charges at an FA disciplinary hearing that will decide his fate. A prolonged absence from the pitch appears inevitable and there are other high-profile precedents. One is the case of Joey Barton, who was on Burnley’s books at the tail end of his playing career when he received an 18-month ban, reduced to 13 on appeal, after accepting charges that he had placed 1,260 bets on football matches between 2006 and 2013.
If Toney’s case is dealt with swiftly he could miss the chance of a return to the England squad when Gareth Southgate’s team play Italy and Ukraine in March. A quick outcome could also suit Brentford in the long run given much of any ban would probably stretch over the summer, minimising his potential absence next season.