May 17, (THEWILL) – Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been handed an eight-month ban and fined £50,000 after admitting to 232 breaches of betting rules.
The charges, brought by the England Football Association last November, alleged 262 breaches over a four-year period. Toney, who recently made his England debut, expressed his disappointment at the outcome and stated that he looks forward to returning to the game he loves next season.
The written reasons behind the decision will be published in due course and will be reviewed by both the FA and Brentford, who are considering their next steps, including a possible appeal. Yet, Toney’s suspension comes as a blow to Brentford, as the 27-year-old striker has been a key contributor with 20 English Premier League goals this season.
He will be unavailable for the remaining two matches against Tottenham and Manchester City, as the team aims to secure a top-10 finish under the guidance of manager Thomas Frank. While the club has not revealed any specific plans to replace Toney, they remain vigilant in the transfer market and continue to seek ways to strengthen the squad.
The FA stated, “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for eight months, fined £50,000, and warned about his future conduct for breaches of the FA’s betting rules.” Toney admitted to 232 of the charges and the independent regulatory commission imposed the sanctions after a personal hearing. The striker will be allowed to train with Brentford from September 17, 2023, during the final four months of his suspension. The FA and Brentford will review the written reasons behind the decision once they are made available.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
