Ivan Toney admits to multiple breaches of FA betting rules as he pleads guilty to many of the 262 charges against him…
- Toney pleaded guilty in response to many of the 262 charges issued by the FA
- Striker is contesting others however with FA disciplinary hearing imminent
- He is expected to start serving a long suspension before the end of the campaign.
Ivan Toney has admitted to multiple allegations of breaching the FA Rules of the Game by betting on football and is set to start a lengthy ban before the end of the season.
sports mail The Brentford forward has learned that he has pleaded guilty in response to many of the 262 charges issued by the FA last December, but he is contesting others, with an FA disciplinary hearing believed to be imminent.
Toney’s impending suspension is likely to take him out of contention for England’s European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine next month, which would be a blow to Gareth Southgate, who is short on attacking options with Callum Wilson and Raheem Sterling. battling petty injuries.
Although Toney was omitted from Southgate’s World Cup squad after training poorly when he was called up for England’s UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and Italy last September, his continued excellent form for Brentford has ensured he remains in the mind of the technician.
Toney was charged with 232 breaches of the FA’s gambling laws between 2017 and 2021 last November, with the FA adding a further 30 charges occurring between 2017 and 2019 the following month.
Ivan Toney is expected to begin a lengthy ban before the end of the season after the Brentford striker admitted to multiple breaches of the Football Association Rules of the Game
Toney has scored 15 times for Brentford this season – including at Arsenal earlier this month
His ban will be a huge blow to Brentford and their manager Thomas Frank
The 26-year-old played for a number of clubs including Scunthorpe, Wigan, Peterborough and Brentford during that period, but has not been accused of betting against any of his own teams.
Toney is understood to have admitted to many of the allegations in his response to the FA, but is disputing others. A suspension lasting several months is the most likely outcome, given the number of alleged violations based on historical precedent.
In 2017, Burnley midfielder Joey Barton was banned for 18 months after admitting to placing 1,260 bets between 2006 and 2013, although the ban was reduced to 13 months following an appeal.
In 2021, two Boston United players, Andi Thanoj and Jay Rollins, were fined for placing 757 bets between them and banned for five months.
Toney is resigned to being banned and an immediate suspension might suit him and Brentford, as if it starts before the end of the season, much of it could be served over the summer.
Brentford look ready to stay in the Premier League even if Toney serves his suspension now
Toney’s impending ban is set to rule him out of England’s March Euro qualifiers
With 35 points on the scoreboard, Thomas Frank’s team are almost guaranteed to stay in the Premier League even without Toney, who has scored 14 goals in 22 games so far this season.
A summer ban would also help protect Toney’s transfer value with a view to Brentford selling him next January or the following summer.
The former Newcastle striker has a contract until 2025 and is expected to attract offers from bigger clubs once the uncertainty surrounding a possible ban is clarified.