Ivan Toney: Banned footballer bet on own team to lose, says FA

Brentford has promised to help Toney after the written reasons for his ban state the suspended forward has a gambling addiction.

Friday 26 May 2023 15:06, UK

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Ivan Toney - who was suspended from all football for eight months after breaking betting rules - backed his own team to lose, the Football Association has said.

The England international and Brentford striker admitted 232 breaches of betting rules between February 2017 and January 2021 and was banned last week from all football activity until 16 January.

Publishing its written reasons for the eight-month ban, the FA said Toney staked 13 bets on his own team to lose in seven different matches between August 2017 and March 2018.

Eleven of those bets were made against his former team Newcastle United - and the other two were against Wigan, who he was on loan to at the time.

The FA also said the ban was reduced from 11 months to eight due to his good record, "genuine remorse" and having been diagnosed with a gambling addiction.

It said: "Of those 29 bets, there were 13 bets on Mr Toney's own team to lose in 7 different matches between 22 August 2017 and 3 March 2018.

"Mr Toney did not play in any of those matches where he placed bets against his loan club as he was not in the match squad or against his parent club as he was on loan.

"Of the 13 bets 11 were against Newcastle whilst Mr Toney was on loan at another club. The other 2 bets related to a game between Wigan v Aston Villa whilst the player was on loan at Wigan but he was not part of the squad."

It added: "There is no evidence that Mr Toney did or was even in a position to influence his own team to lose when he placed bets against them winning - he was not in the squad or eligible to play at the time."

Toney posted on social media after the FA published the details of his breaches on Friday.

He said in an Instagram story: "I used to rush to defend myself against false accusations but now I watch to see who believes it so I know who to cut off first."

Psychiatrist diagnoses Toney with gambling addiction

FA rules ban players from betting on games or sharing information for betting purposes.

The sanctions mean the 27-year-old won't be available to play again until January 2024, although he will be allowed to return to training in September. Alongside the ban, Toney was also fined £50,000.

Psychiatrist Dr Philip Hopley interviewed Toney twice and concluded he had a clear history of gambling addiction.

The FA document said: "The commission finds that a significant reduction should be made to reflect the diagnosed gambling addiction identified by Dr Hopley.

"The lack of control the player has in respect of gambling is clearly a reflection of his diagnosed gambling addiction."

Brentford has promised to help Toney. A club statement read: "Ivan and Brentford FC accept that offences were committed, and sanctions were inevitable.

"The commission noted that none of the charges related to events where Ivan could negatively impact his own team. The detail is included in the written reasons.

"The club will now be doing everything possible to provide support to Ivan and his family to deal with the issues raised in this case."

They said they considered the matter "closed" and "look forward" to welcoming Toney back to training in September.