Brentford striker Ivan Toney will not be stopped from going to the World Cup despite him being investigated over historic match betting.
Toney is hoping to be named in England’s 26 man squad for Qatar on Thursday despite issuing a public statement confirming he is co-operating with an inquiry. The Football Association has declined to comment but Toney is still available for selection for club and country during the investigation.
Toney said: “I’m aware of a story about me in a national newspaper today. I have been assisting the FA with their enquiries and will not be making any comment until such investigation has reached its conclusion.”
Toney missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest through suspension after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season against Wolves last weekend.
He joined Brentford for £5million from Peterborough in 2020 after beginning his career with hometown club Northampton and going on loan to Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe and Wigan while at Newcastle.
Under FA rules, players operating at Premier League, Football League, National League, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship levels are “prohibited from betting, either directly or indirectly, on any football match or competition that takes place anywhere in the world”.
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The ban extends to “betting on any other football-related matter – for example, the transfer of players, employment of managers or team selection”, while “the passing of inside information to somebody that uses the information for betting remains prohibited”.
Big names such as Joey Barton, Kieran Trippier and Daniel Sturridge have been given bans after being found guilty of flouting the FA’s strict rules on gambling.
However, Trippier was made captain by England boss Gareth Southgate for a game the night before he was due to give evidence at a hearing, which suggests that it will not stop players being picked.
