Brentford FC and England striker Ivan Toney wagered on video games he was concerned in, in accordance with the findings of a Soccer Affiliation (FA) regulatory fee, printed Friday.
Ivan Toney, above, wears a playing brand on his jersey each time he takes the sector for Brentford. However the participant has been identified with a playing habit, prompting requires a overview into elite soccer’s monetary relationship with the playing business. (Getty)
Final week, Toney, 26, was banned from skilled soccer for eight months after admitting to 232 breaches of FA betting guidelines, a penalty that many considered as harsh. Nonetheless, the costs weren’t beforehand thought to have associated to video games by which the participant was personally concerned.
In truth, Toney would possibly contemplate himself fortunate. Below FA guidelines, betting by yourself video games may end up in a life ban from soccer.
No Match-Fixing
The fee discovered that Toney positioned 26 bets that associated to the membership he was registered with on the time. This included 13 events when he backed his personal staff to lose, though he was indirectly concerned in these matches.
Of the matches he did play in, he all the time backed his staff to win (16 events). On 15 events, he additionally guess on himself to attain at a time when it was not public information that he could be enjoying in a sport, which constituted insider betting. Nonetheless, the fee discovered no proof of match-fixing.
There is no such thing as a proof that Mr Toney did or was even ready to affect his personal staff to lose when he positioned bets in opposition to them successful — he was not within the squad or eligible to play on the time,” it concluded.
However the fee discovered that Toney lied concerning the extent of his betting and used third events to gamble on his behalf, in accordance with the fee.
Nonetheless, it diminished his sanction from 14 to 11 months. That’s as a result of Toney has been identified with a playing downside and had sought skilled assist.
Brentford Backing Toney
Brentford mentioned it might “do all the pieces doable” to assist Toney along with his habit. The staff’s supervisor, Thomas Frank, mentioned in an announcement that soccer’s monetary relationship with playing must be reviewed. Frank additionally criticized the choice to ban Toney from coaching with the squad till September.
“We received an enormous reminder [on gambling],” he mentioned. “Can we do sufficient to coach our gamers? The authorities have an enormous job to verify we do that a lot better.
“If I can’t communicate to him, I assume they must ban me as nicely. If I’m not allowed to assist him there have to be one thing incorrect,” Frank added.
The EPL has voted to ban playing logos on the entrance of jerseys from the tip of the 2025/26 season. Playing promoting will nonetheless be prevalent elsewhere, together with on stadium hoardings.
