(Football news) Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football-related activity for 8 months after breaching a number of FA betting rules. This means that he will miss the club’s final two games of the season against Tottenham this weekend and Manchester City on the final day. The striker has scored 33% of Brentford’s goals in the Premier League this season and will now be out of action until January 16, 2024.
If that’s not all, Toney’s sanctions means that he won’t be allowed to train alongside his teammates at Brentford until September 17. The 27 year old was charged with 262 breaches of FA rule E8 between February 25, 2017 and January 23, 2021. Toney admitted to 232 breaches while 30 others were subsequently withdrawn from the FA. He has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances this season and has the right to appeal the punishment.
A statement released by Brentford Football Club read “Brentford FC notes the decision of an independent Regulatory Commission to issue an eight-month ban from all football and football-related activity to Ivan Toney with immediate effect. Ivan was charged with breaches of FA rule E8 and had a personal hearing earlier this week. Brentford FC is currently awaiting the publication of the written reasons of the independent Regulatory Commission. We will review them before considering our next steps.”
According to the Football Association rules, betting on football is banned for all players, managers, coaches, club staff, directors and licensed agents within the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women’s Super League, Women’s Championship and the Northern, Southern and Isthmian leagues. Participants are prohibited from betting either director or indirectly on any football match or competition anywhere in the world. The ban also includes player transfers, team selection and managerial appointments.
