Brentford striker Ivan Toney has admitted to multiple charges of breaching the English Football Association’s gambling rules by betting on football matches.
The 26-year-old has pleaded guilty to a large number of the 262 charges brought against him by the FA last December. Although Toney is challenging the remaining charges, he is expected to begin serving a lengthy suspension before the end of the season, and an FA disciplinary hearing reportedly imminent.
Ivan Toney pleads guilty to many of the 262 charges of breaching the FA's betting rules, according to @MattHughesDM.
He faces a 'lengthy' ban before the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/isxBkAyWTq
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 28, 2023
In November 2022, the Bees’ forward was charged with 232 breaches of the FA’s gambling laws between 2017 and 2021, with a further 30 charges that took place between 2017 and 2019 added a month later.
If past instances of gambling violations in English football are any indication, a suspension lasting several months would most likely suffice.
Former Burnley midfielder Joey Barton was given an 18-month ban in 2017 after admitting to placing 1260 bets between 2006 and 2013. However, the suspension was later reduced to 13 months after an appeal.
In 2021, two Boston United players, Andi Thanoj and Jay Rollins, were found guilty of placing 757 bets between them and banned for five months.
Toney has scored 15 goals and provided five assists for Brentford this season, including 14 goals and three assists in the Premier League.
With the team sitting ninth in the league standings with 35 points and being almost certain of staying up in the English top flight, the former Newcastle striker’s imminent ban will come as a huge blow to Brentford and their Danish manager Thomas Frank, as they have a chance at qualification for continental football.
