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The 27-year-old has commented on his heavy punishment that will rule him out of action until September 2024.
Brentford forward Ivan Toney has broken his silence after news emerged of his eight-month betting ban.
Toney was slapped with the hefty suspension after admitting 232 charges and fined £50,000 for breaching FA betting rules.
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20:20 - 17.05.2023
FOOTBALL Ivan Toney banned for eight months for breaking betting rules
The striker has scored 20 goals in 33 league appearances this season.
The immediate ban will see him ruled out of action until January 2024 - and unable to even train until mid-September this year.
Toney, who made his England debut this year, took to social media on Wednesday evening, saying: "Today, I have received notification of my eight-month ban from football following a hearing before an FA Regulatory Commission that took place yesterday. I am naturally disappointed that I will be unable to play for the next eight months,” he said.
"The written reasons for the Commission's decision have not yet been published, so I make no further comment at this point other than to thank my family and friends, Brentford FC and our fans for their continued support, through what has been a very difficult time. I now focus on returning to play the game I love next season."
Brentford added that they will "review" the written reasons before "considering the next steps".
The decision wrecks Toney’s year, just two months after he made his Three Lions debut as a late replacement for captain Harry Kane in the Euro 2024 qualifying win over Ukraine.
Toney, who is the third-highest scorer in the Premier League this season, with 20 goals and only below Erling Haaland and Kane in the goal charts, was a certainty to be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for next month’s qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
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20:20 - 17.05.2023
Ivan Toney: 3 reasons why Brentford striker was banned for eight months
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been banned from football for eight months for breaking over 232 betting breaches.
Now, though, he is ineligible for selection and will not be allowed to play for his country until March.
Toney’s charges related to a four-year period between February 2017 and January 2021 when the striker was playing for Scunthorpe and Wigan, on loan from Newcastle, and subsequently Peterborough and the Bees.
There was never a suggestion that he placed wagers on any matches in which he was involved. Toney appeared before an independent FA disciplinary commission on Tuesday in an attempt to argue down his looming ban, which will now rule him out of a big-money summer switch.
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