Ivan Toney banned for eight months after breaching betting rules

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been banned from football for a period of eight months after breaching Football Association betting rules.

Toney’s suspension will last until January 16, 2024 and has also been charged £50,000 for 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules.

Ivan Toney has been banned from football-related activities for eight months (Image: @433)

His suspension begins with immediate effect, but the striker can return to training with Brentford four months before the suspension ends on 17 September.

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In a statement, the FA said: “His [Toney] sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing.

“The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and the FA will wait to review them before commenting further.”

Toney’s breaches took place between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021, during which time Toney represented Scunthorpe United, Wigan Athletic, Peterborough United and Brentford.

So far this season, the 27-year-old has scored 20 goals in 33 Premier League games. His performances and contributions have helped Brentford to ninth place in the table.

Toney will not be available for Brentford’s trip to Tottenham on Saturday as he’s now banned. He’ll also miss the final day of the season clash with league leaders Manchester City on 28 May.

Ivan Toney (Image: @eurofootcom)

Brentford say they note the FA’s decision and are awaiting the publication of the written reasons before considering next steps.

Toney made his England bow in March, coming on as a late substitute in the Three Lions’ 2-0 win over Ukraine.

Players previously banned for betting breaches

In 2017, Joey Barton – who was playing for Burnley at that time – was banned for 18 months. It was later reduced to 13 on appeal, after the player admitted to placing 1,260 football-related bets for 10 years.

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Recall that England defender Kieran Trippier was banned for 10 weeks by the Football Association in December 2020. This was due to the player’s release of information for others to bet on his transfer from Tottenham to Atlético.