Brentford’s Ivan Toney gets 8-month ban for betting violations

London, May 17 (EFE).- Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been banned from the sport for eight months for 232 violations of the rules on betting, the English Football Association said Wednesday.

Toney, 27, has scored 21 goals in all competitions for the London club this season and is third in scoring in the Premier League behind Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.

“Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined L50,000 ($62,407) and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules,” the association said in a statement.

The forward admitted to 232 breaches of the FA’s Rule E8 between February 2017 and January 2021. That rule prohibits players from betting on games, whether directly or through another party, or from sharing privileged information for the purposes of wagering.

Toney will miss Brentford’s final two matches of the Premier League season.

The Bees are currently ninth in the table with 53 points.

“Today I have received notification of my eight-month ban from football following a hearing before an FA Regulatory Commission that took place yesterday. I am naturally disappointed that I will be unable to play for the next eight months,” Toney said Wednesday on Twitter.

“The written reasons for the commission’s decision have not yet been published, so I make no further comment at this point other than to thank my family and friends, Brentford FC and our fans for their continued support, through what has been a very difficult time. I now focus on returning to play the game I love next season,” he added.

Toney will be allowed to resume training with Brentford for the final four months of the suspension, beginning Sept. 17.

EFE

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