Brentford striker Ivan Toney ‘pictured training with the club in August’ after he was banned from football for eight months, with the Bees receiving ‘dispensation from the FA to allow the player to attend club premises’

Ivan Toney was reportedly photographed training at Brentford’s performance center in August while he was still banned from playing football after the club ‘made a secret deal with the Football Association’.

The 27-year-old was banned from all football activities for eight months on May 17 after the striker pleaded guilty against 232 of the 262 betting charges brought against him by the FA last year.

Toney was expected to return to training next week after a four-month absence.

The England forward, who made his debut for Gareth Southgate’s side earlier this year, is expected to be able to play for the club again on January 16, 2024, with Mail Sport reporting that Toney was expected to return to training next week after a four matches. month of absence.

But according to The Sun, the Premier League team say the striker has been given ‘dispensation’ to use their training ground, with the report also showing pictures of Toney jogging around a pitch at their training centre. They say the footage was taken in August.

The 27-year-old (right) was banned from all football activities for eight months on May 17 after the forward pleaded guilty to 232 out of 262 bets.

According to the outlet, Brentford have issued a statement regarding the forward’s early return, with the club reportedly saying: ‘Ivan Toney has been granted dispensation by the Football Association to attend the club premises during his suspension from football-related activities for rehabilitation work following an injury had suffered. hamstring injury that forced him to miss games in May.

‘That rehabilitation work included individual sessions with strength and conditioning coaches and medical staff, including with a football, according to Ivan’s recovery plan.

‘There have been no breaches of FA sanctions, all of which were strictly adhered to by both the club and Ivan.’

The Sun adds that Toney ‘practiced with the ball at the Bees’ training ground before being filmed taking part in a solo fitness session with first-team conditioning coach Matt Bramhall.’

It comes as the club previously pledged to support the striker during his suspension, saying: ‘The club will now do everything possible to support Ivan and his family in addressing the issues raised in this case.’

His last game for Brentford came on 5 May, a 1–0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. Toney also scored remarkably in his previous outing, helping Thomas Frank’s side beat Nottingham Forest 2-1.

He missed the final three games of the season, the first with an injury, before his suspension prevented him from playing in the final two games, with Toney enjoying a productive season, scoring 20 goals in 33 Premier League games.

Toney was expected to return to training later in September after a four-month absence

His manager, Frank, admitted last week that his side could sell the Bees star ‘for the right price’, with reports also suggesting that Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham were eyeing a move for Toney in January.

In August, Toney opened up about his gambling addiction as he publicly discussed his ban for the first time, admitting he had been turned down by restaurants and car insurers.

The 27-year-old said: ‘I remember at the time there were accusations, I wanted to go to a restaurant and they said, “No, we can’t, we won’t take you.”

He added: ‘I was just stunned, and my car insurance company wouldn’t insure me because of the whole scandal. And I was like “car insurance? They don’t want me on their books?”. It was mind-boggling.”