Brentford FC striker Ivan Tooney has been banned from football for eight months after he admitted to 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules.
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An independent regulatory commission imposed the eight months sanction and a £50,000 fine which starts with immediate effect. Tooney wil not be allowed to train with his Brentford team-mates until September 17.
Toney, 27 years of age, who has scored 33% of Brentford’s Premier League goals this season, will be banned until January 16, 2024.
He was charged with 262 breaches of FA rule E8 between February 25, 2017, and January 23, 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.
Betting on football is banned worldwide for all players, managers, coaches, club staff, directors and licensed agents involved in the game within the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women’s Super League, Women’s Championship and the Northern, Southern and Isthmian leagues.
Participants covered by the ban are prohibited from betting, either directly or indirectly, on any football match or competition that takes place anywhere in the world.
The ban also includes betting on any other football-related matter such as the transfer of players, managerial appointments or team selection.
The one-cap England forward, who has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Brentford this season, has the right to appeal the punishment.
In a statement posted on his Twitter handle, Tooney stated that he was disappointed that he will be unable to play for the next 8 months, further saying that he will not make further comment at this point.
— Ivan Toney (@ivantoney24) May 17, 2023
In a statement posted on its website, Brentford said they were “awaiting the publication of the written reasons of the independent regulatory commission. We will review them before considering our next steps.”
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
