Ivan Toney was diagnosed as a gambling addict who bet his own clubs would lose 13 times before the Football Association handed him an eight-month ban from football, it has been revealed.
Brentford and England striker Toney, 27, has also admitted lying to the FA about betting on football and providing inside information to a friend about when a game was starting.
In the written reasons for the FA bombing, published today, it is revealed that Toney:
- He made 13 bets on his own team between August 2017 and March 2018, with 11 of them against Newcastle, his parent club, while on loan at Wigan.
- He informed a friend that he would start his club’s next game in March 2018.
- He used other people’s accounts to place bets despite initially denying the allegations.
- He admitted to lying during his first interview with the FA when questioned about the betting charges.
It was also stated in the FA report that Toney did not play in any of the matches he bet on against his parent club.
The FA have revealed the reasons for Ivan Toney’s eight-month football ban
The governing body came close to giving Toney a 15-month suspension due to the nature of the violations, but reduced the suspension to almost half because he pleaded guilty and was diagnosed with gambling addiction.
A section of the FA report on Friday said: “Of those 29 bets, there were 13 bets that Mr Toney’s own team would lose in 7 different matches between 22 August 2017 and 3 March 2018.”
‘Mr Toney did not play in any of those matches where he placed bets against his loan club because he was not in the team of the match or against his parent club because he was on loan.
‘Of the 13 bets, 11 were against Newcastle while Mr Toney was on loan at another club. The other 2 bets concerned a match between Wigan and Aston Villa while the player was on loan at Wigan but was not part of the squad.
‘A further 15 of the 126 bets or betting instructions were placed by Mr Toney to score in 9 different games in which he played.
All of those 15 bets or instructions to bet were initiated by Mr. Toney at a time when it would not have been public knowledge that he was starting or playing in the match.
The FA went on to reveal that Toney has now been diagnosed with a gambling addiction and advised to seek professional help.
The striker was diagnosed as a gambling addict after betting his own team to lose 13 times
‘The Commission had the benefit of a report from Dr. Philip Hopley dated February 2, 2023, who also attended the hearing via video link to answer questions.
‘Dr Hopley interviewed Mr Toney on two occasions and concluded in his report that Mr Toney has a clear history of gambling addiction.
‘There is no need to set the report details on these reasons. Dr. Hopley’s conclusion was that Mr. Toney needs professional help regarding his addiction.
Mail Sport revealed in February that Toney had pleaded guilty to most of the 262 betting charges brought by the FA last year, with an independent disciplinary commission imposing an eight-month ban and a £50,000 fine after a hearing. this month.
The ban will prevent Toney from gambling until January 16 of next year, reflecting both the number of violations and the fact that the bets were placed over an extended four-year period between February 2017 and January 2021.
Toney won’t even be allowed to train with Brentford until September, leaving him no choice but to work out on his own to keep fit.
Brentford responded to the FA ruling with a statement of its own on Friday.
Toney, pictured making his England debut against Ukraine in March, was endorsed by Gareth Southgate on Tuesday when the Three Lions boss announced his squad for June.
It read: ‘Brentford FC have received and accepted written reasons from an independent Regulatory Commission that Ivan Toney was granted an eight-month suspension from all football and football-related activity after he admitted breaches of FA rule E8, related to placing bets on soccer. .
‘The ruling has been published on the FA website. Ivan and Brentford FC accept that crimes were committed and that penalties were unavoidable.
“The commission noted that none of the charges were related to events where Ivan could negatively affect his own team.”
England boss Gareth Southgate questioned the length of the ban when announcing his team to face Malta and North Macedonia on Tuesday, fearing the Brentford striker could be deserted during his suspension.
Southgate challenged the terms of the punishment set by his employers, and Toney was unable to train with Brentford until September.
“I’ve talked to (Toney),” he said. By the way, I don’t know if that’s allowed. If not, they can ban me and not add to their ban.
‘Look, the ban is the ban. It is what it is. She recognized and accepted the punishment. What bothers me is that we have to take care of people.
Toney’s ban is one of the longest in football history, equaling Rio Ferdinand’s back in 2003.
Thomas Frank assured Toney his future is at Brentford despite the striker’s lengthy ban
He’s injured right now. What does he do to get in shape? How do we give him some structure over the next few months so that he can develop or be a better person in the end, or have experiences that he may not experience?
“I don’t like the idea that we just leave someone there so they’re not allowed to be part of the football community.”
“I don’t think that’s how we should work, I don’t think that’s how the best rehabilitation programs work.”
On whether Toney could still be included in his Euro 2024 squad next summer, Southgate added: “It’s certainly possible for him.”
More to follow.
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