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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Ivan Toney makes "speak soon" vow after 11 bets against own club led to eight-month ban

Ivan Toney has promised to speak "with no filter" about his eight-month ban from football for breaching the Football Association's betting rules.

Toney, 27, was handed a lengthy suspension earlier this month after being charged with 232 breaches of the FA's betting rules. As it stands, the England international will return to training with Brentford in September and Premier League football in January.

The FA released a 25-page document on Friday to show how they decided on Toney's punishment. The forward received a reduced ban because he has allegedly been diagnosed as a gambling addict, with the FA initially considering a 15-month suspension.

Toney, who said he was "naturally disappointed" when news of his ban first broke, shed more light on his case with a tweet on Friday. "I'll speak soon with no filter," he wrote.

Toney is alleged to have played 13 bets on his own team, Newcastle, between August 2017 and March 2018 - with 11 of those against the Magpies. Yet he was on loan at Wigan at the time and there is no evidence he gambled on any games he played in.

The FA's statement read: "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.

Toney is also unavailable for international duty (Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

What do you make of Ivan Toney's case? Let us know in the comments below!

"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."

The FA 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."

The alleged breaches took place between February 2017 and January 2021. Toney joined current side Brentford in August 2020 but did not place any bets involving the Bees.

Brentford released a statement on the matter on Friday. It read: "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. Conversations regarding this and all matters relating to the case will remain confidential in order to protect the player and his family."

In an earlier statement, Toney said: "Today I have received notification of my 8-month ban from football following a hearing before an FA Regulatory Commission that took place yesterday. I am naturally disappointed that I will be unable to play for the next 8 months.

"The written reasons for the Commission's decision have not yet been published, so I make no further comment at this point other than to thank my family and friends, Brentford FC and our fans for their continued support, through what has been a very difficult time. I now focus on returning to play the game I love next season."

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