When will Ivan Toney return to football and why is he banned?

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been suspended for eight months after pleading guilty to 232 betting offences.

The FA confirmed on Wednesday that Toney will be suspended until January 16 next year and will not be allowed to train until September 2023.

The suspension will affect Toney from both a domestic and international perspective as the Bees striker has won calls for Gareth Southgate’s England side thanks to his prolific goalscoring season in West London.

Toney has also been fined £50,000 by the FA and warned about his future conduct in relation to the governing body’s betting.

Here’s everything you need to know about the cause of Toney’s eight-month suspension.

What has the FA said?

The FA released a statement on Wednesday confirming the suspension.

It read: ‘Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and soccer-related activities with immediate effect for eight months, running until 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned of his future conduct for breaches of the betting rules of the FA. Regulations.

The Brentford FC striker was charged with a total of 262 offenses under FA Rule E8 between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these offenses and he admitted to the remaining 232.

His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent regulatory commission following a personal hearing. From September 17, 2023, he will only be allowed to train with his club again during the last four months of his suspension.

“The Independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and the FA will wait to review them before commenting further.”

The England international and striker from Brentford will not play until January 2024 at the earliest

What led to the FA suspending Toney?

Toney, who has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Brentford this season, was charged with allegedly breaking the FA’s betting rules 232 times in a period from February 2017 to January 2021.

Mail Sport reported on November 5 last year that Toney was under investigation by the FA, and the striker was quick to acknowledge the allegations on social media.

He wrote on Twitter: ‘I am aware of a story about me in a national newspaper today.

“I have assisted the Football Association with their investigation and will not comment until the investigation is complete.”

The governing body then confirmed last December that the Brentford striker had been charged with a further 30 alleged breaches of the FA’s betting rules, claiming the additional offenses took place between March 2017 and February 2019.

The 27-year-old has also been fined £50,000 by the Football Association of England.

The FA’s statement in December read: ‘Ivan Toney has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the FA’s betting rules.

In addition to the previous charge, the Brentford FC striker is alleged to have breached FA Rule E8 a further 30 times between March 14, 2017 and February 18, 2019.

“Ivan Toney has until Wednesday, January 4, 2023 to respond.”

Brentford responded to the FA’s allegations last December with a statement of its own.

It read: ‘The FA has informed Brentford FC that Ivan Toney has been charged in connection with additional alleged breaches of their betting rules.

“Our private discussions with Ivan and his legal representatives on this matter continue. Ivan has until Wednesday, January 4, 2023 to respond.

“We will not comment further at this stage.”

More to follow.