Ivan Toney has been banned from football for eight months after being found guilty of hundreds of breaches of their betting rules.
The Brentford and England striker admitted to 232 separate breaches of guidelines over a four-year period, resulting in a ban that will run to January along with a fine of £50,000.
A hearing was held earlier this week with Toney, 27, facing an independent regulatory commission, who have ruled that he can return to training until September.
A Football Association (FA) statement on Wednesday confirmed: “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 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.”
Toney does have the right to appeal the punishment.
Brentford have acknowledge the ban and will take further steps when the comission’s full verdict is published.
A statement 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.”
Toney released his own statement stating his “disappointment” at the verdict.
“Today I have received notification of my eight-month ban from football following a hearing before an FA Regualtory Commission that took place yesterday,” he stated.
“I am naturally disappointed that I will not be able to play for the next eight months.
“The written reasons for the Comission’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 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.”
