EXCLUSIVE: Toney pleads guilty to betting charges

IVAN TONEY has admitted multiple charges of breaching FA gambling rules by betting on football and is expected to start a lengthy ban before the end of the season. 

Sportsmail has learned that the Brentford striker has pleaded guilty in response to many of the 262 charges issued by the FA last December, but is contesting others, with an FA disciplinary hearing understood to be imminent.

Toney’s impending ban is likely to rule him out of contention for England’s European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine next month, which would be a blow for Gareth Southgate, who is short of attacking options with Callum Wilson and Raheem Sterling both battling niggling injuries. 

Although Toney was omitted from Southgate’s World Cup squad after training poorly when he was called up for England’s UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and Italy last September, his continued outstanding form for Brentford has ensured he has remained in the manager’s thoughts.

Toney was charged with 232 breaches of the FA’s gambling laws between 2017 and 2021 last November, with the FA adding a further 30 charges that took place between 2017 and 2019 the following month. 

The 26-year-old played for numerous clubs including Scunthorpe, Wigan, Peterborough and Brentford throughout that period, but has not been accused of betting against any of his own teams.

Toney is understood to have admitted many of the charges in his response to the FA, but is contesting others. A suspension lasting several months is the most likely outcome given the number of alleged breaches based on historical precedents.

In 2017, Burnley midfielder Joey Barton was banned for 18 months after admitting placing 1260 bets between 2006 and 2013, although the suspension was reduced to 13 months following an appeal. In 2021, two Boston United players Andi Thanoj and Jay Rollins were fined guilty of placing 757 bets between them and banned for five months.

Toney is resigned to being banned and a prompt suspension may suit him and Brentford, as if it starts before the end of the season much of it could be served during the summer. With 35 points on the board, Thomas Frank’s side are almost guaranteed to stay in the Premier League even without Toney, who has scored 14 goals in 22 games so far this season.

A summer ban would also help protect Toney’s transfer value with a view to Brentford selling him next January or the following summer. The former Newcastle striker is under contract until 2025 and is expected to attract offers from bigger clubs once the uncertainty surrounding the potential ban has been clarified.