Brentford talisman Ivan Toney has been suspended from football for eight months after admitting 232 breaches of the Football Association’s (FA) betting rules.
It means that the centre forward, who has been a key player for the Bees this season and only narrowly missed out on being part of England’s World Cup squad, will next be available for selection on January 26 2024.
The final four months of the ban will see Toney available to train with the club again. However prior to this he will be banned from all football activity.
Toney, although admitting guilt to the breaches, has previously voiced his disappointment with the process leading to the ban – specifically when it comes to alleged leaks by the FA.
Brentford also revealed that the club is awaiting the written reasons of the independent Regulatory Commission and will then review them before considering next steps.
Toney followed up by tweeting that he is ‘naturally disappointed’ describing the recent period as being very difficult before adding that he is awaiting the written reasons for the decision before making a full response on the decision.
Whilst the charges came from the FA, the decision came from an independent commission made up of senior figures from the world of sport and law.
Toney was originally issued with a £50,000 fine and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
Originally the striker was hit with charges of 262 breaches of FA Rule E8, however 30 of these charges were withdrawn.
The suspension is significantly longer than Kieran Trippier’s 10 week punishment two years ago, after the full back was found to have breached rules that prevent players from providing inside information when it comes to betting after his move from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid. Trippier was charged with seven breaches of FA betting rules.
