Brentford striker Ivan Toney has revealed his “shock and disappointment” after news of the details surrounding his ongoing case with the English Football Association was made known this week.
The 26-year-old said he was “worried about the process” following reports of his admittance to a number of the 262 alleged breaches of gambling rules brought against him by the FA.
The Three Lions forward made his disappointment known in a statement on his official Instagram channel. He stressed his dismay and revealed that his lawyers will write to the FA to ask for a “leak inquiry” into how information about the case ended out in the media.
He said: “I was shocked and disappointed to see press speculation yesterday and today about the FA investigation process concerning me after I have been told by the FA that it is a confidential process until any decision has been made.
“It is especially disturbing for me to read that the FA is saying I shall be banned from football for six months before there has even been a hearing and it does make me worried about the process.
“My lawyers will be writing to the FA to request that they conduct a leak inquiry, as this is the second time stories have appeared in the newspapers – the last time was just before the selection for the England World Cup squad.
“As I continue to be told the investigation is meant to be confidential, I am unable to provide any further comment and shall continue to concentrate on my football.”
Toney had originally been accused of breaching over 232 betting rules and was charged by the FA in November 2022, with the alleged breaches said to have occurred between February 2017 and January 2021. In December 2022, a further 30 charges were added.
However, earlier this week, reports said that the former Newcastle striker had admitted to being guilty of breaching multiple betting rules, and a possible six-month ban was being discussed.
The FA will now go through Toney’s response to the charges before issuing a hearing date. It will be then up to an independent regulatory commission to reach a verdict and issue a subsequent punishment.
The commission will decide whether to dismiss or uphold any charges denied by Toney based on the evidence.
