The English Football Association (FA) has indicted Ivan Toney, a player for Premier League team Brentford, for breaking its stringent wagering regulations.
The FA asserts that Toney disregarded its betting rules, following reports that he placed wagers on football matches earlier in his professional career.
Toney acknowledged last week that he was collaborating with the FA’s inquiry.
The Daily Mail reported that the FA had been examining Toney for seven months, alleging that he gambled on matches while competing in lower leagues. It is believed that Toney never wagered against the teams he was representing at the time.
The FA has now officially confirmed that it has accused Toney after the investigation determined that he had violated betting rules 232 times between February 25, 2017, and January 23, 2021.
The specific infraction is FA betting rule E8, which stipulates that no player, match official, or coach may directly or indirectly place bets on any matter related to football anywhere in the world.
While the FA has not yet disclosed further information about the ruling, it did state that Toney has until November 24 to respond to the accusations.
Tony has yet to provide feedback on the ruling, but his team, Brentford, has issued a concise statement on their online platform acknowledging the verdict.
Brentford stated: “The organization has been engaged in conversations with Ivan and his legal representatives regarding this issue, and these discussions will continue in a private setting. We will refrain from making any further remarks until the matter is fully resolved.”
The 26-year-old joined Brentford at the commencement of the 2020-21 campaign, aiding the club in securing promotion to the Premier League from the Championship, netting 31 league goals in the process.
Before joining Brentford, he spent a two-year period at Peterborough United in League One, having previously had stints at other lower league clubs during his tenure at Newcastle United.
Tony only made four appearances for Newcastle, having joined the club from League Two side Northampton Town, where he initiated his professional career.
Tony was among the players being considered for England’s roster in anticipation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup (to be hosted in Qatar). However, despite scoring 10 league goals this season, Tony was excluded from the national team.
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