FA reduced Ivan Toney’s suspension due to gambling addiction diagnosis

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been identified as a gambling addict, which led him to wager on his personal golf equipment to lose matches, in accordance to the English Football Association’s (FA) causes for handing him an eight-month ban.

The 27-year-old was hit with the suspension and a £50,000 high-quality earlier this month after he accepted 232 breaches of the FA’s guidelines on betting.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

English soccer’s governing physique printed the impartial regulatory fee’s full verdict on Friday and revealed they pushed for a 15-month ban however handed down a reduced punishment after bearing in mind the striker’s responsible plea and proof from a psychiatry knowledgeable who concluded he’s an addict.

The FA report read: “The Commission had the benefit of a report from Dr Philip Hopley dated 2 February 2023 who also attended the hearing by video conference to answer questions.

“Dr Hopley had interviewed Mr Toney on two events and concluded in his report that Mr Toney has a transparent historical past of gambling addiction.

“There is no need to set out the details of the report in these reasons. It was Dr Hopley’s conclusion that Mr Toney needs professional help in respect of his addiction.”

It has additionally emerged that Toney positioned 13 bets on his personal crew to lose in seven totally different matches between August 2017 and March 2018 when he was on mortgage from Newcastle United at Wigan Athletic after which Scunthorpe United. He didn’t play in any of these matches.

In one other cost, Toney advised a buddy that he would begin his membership’s subsequent recreation in March 2018 when it was not public data and in addition admitted mendacity to the FA when first questioned concerning the prices. Toney has now stopped gambling on soccer, and the report said he’s “determined to address his gambling problem with therapy.”

England supervisor Gareth Southgate was crucial earlier this week concerning the extent of the ban, and mentioned the soccer neighborhood ought to do extra to assist Toney relatively than ostracise him, notably given he isn’t allowed to practice with Brentford till mid-September.

Brentford said in a statement: “Brentford FC has received and accepted the written reasons of an independent Regulatory Commission that handed Ivan Toney an eight-month ban from all football and football-related activity after he admitted breaches of FA Rule E8, relating to placing bets on football.

“The membership will now be doing every little thing doable to present assist to Ivan and his household to take care of the problems raised on this case. Conversations relating to this and all issues relating to the case will stay confidential so as to shield the participant and his household.

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