Brentford vow to support Ivan Toney after banned footballer is diagnosed as a gambling addict

Brentford has shown his support for Ivan Toney after the striker was diagnosed as a compulsive gambler on Friday, when the FA revealed the reasons behind his eight-month ban from football.

The Brentford striker, who has received backing from England boss Gareth Southgate, pleaded guilty to 232 of 262 bets submitted by the FA last year, with the final result – a £50,000 fine and an eight-month suspension – earlier in the month.

The governing body dropped the remaining 30 charges, but either way, Toney is suspended until January 16 next year and he can’t even train with Brentford until September. The ban is longer than initially expected, but it reflects the seriousness of the situation.

In Friday’s FA bombshell, it is revealed that Toney placed more than a dozen bets on his own team over a seven-month period between 2017 and 2018. He also kicked himself to score several times.

Toney also once informed a friend that he would start his club’s next game, although the circumstances surrounding the offense are unclear. The FA’s report also stated that Toney did not play in any of the games he bet against his parent club, Newcastle, while on loan at Wigan.

The Premier League club is looking forward to welcoming Toney back to training in September

The FA has revealed the reasons behind the striker’s eight-month suspension

Brentford quickly responded to the FA report, insisting they consider the case closed and will continue to support the attacker.

A Brentford statement read: ‘Brentford FC have received and accepted the written reasons from an independent regulatory committee giving Ivan Toney an eight-month ban from all football and soccer-related activities after he admitted breaching FA rule E8 in relation to placing bets. on football.

The verdict has been published on the FA’s website. Ivan and Brentford FC accept that offenses have been committed and sanctions are inevitable.

The commission noted that none of the charges related to events where Ivan could negatively affect his own team. The elaboration is included in the written justification.

The document reads: “The current case is not one of match-fixing. If so, the charges would have been prosecuted under other provisions. There is no evidence that Mr Toney did or was even able to influence his own team to lose when he placed bets against them to win – he was not in the squad or eligible to play at the time .

The document continues: “The committee believes that a significant reduction should be made to reflect diagnosed gambling addiction [psychiatrist] dr [Philip] Hopley. The player’s lack of control over gambling is clearly a reflection of his diagnosed gambling addiction.”

“The club will now do everything possible to support Ivan and his family in resolving the issues raised in this case. Conversations about this and all matters related to the case remain confidential to protect the player and his family.

“We consider this matter closed and look forward to welcoming Ivan back to training in September and seeing him represent Brentford in the Premier League in January.”

Toney, pictured making his England debut against Ukraine in March, was joined by Gareth Southgate on Tuesday as the Three Lions boss announced his squad for June.

While Toney is now serving his eight-month suspension, Friday’s FA report revealed they were close to giving him an eight-month suspension, that’s how serious the offenses are.

However, the suspension was nearly cut in half as he pleaded guilty and was diagnosed with a gambling addiction.

The main features of the FA report are described below:

• Placed 13 bets on his own team between August 2017 and March 2018, including 11 against his parent club Newcastle, while on loan at Wigan
• Told a friend he would start his next club match in March 2018
• Used other people’s accounts to place bets despite initial denial of the allegations
• Admitted to lying during his first interview with the FA when questioned about gambling charges