BRENDFORD'S IVAN TONEY BANNED FOR EIGHT MONTHS FOR BREACHING BETTING RULES

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Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been banned from football activity for eight months for breaching Football Association betting rules.

Toney whose suspension will start with immediate effect, will not be able to play for his club or England until January 16, 2024 as a result of his extraordinary ban.

The 27 year-old was charged with 232 breaches of the FA’s gambling laws between 2017 and 2021 last November, with the FA adding a further 30 charges that took place between 2017 and 2019 the following month before the were subsequently withdrawn.

As a result of his ban, Toney has been fined £50,000 after admitting to 232 of the alleged breaches.

An FA statement read: ‘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 £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.

‘The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.

“His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing.

“He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023.

“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.”

The one-cap England forward, who has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Brentford this season, has the right to appeal the punishment.