Ivan Toney bet on his own team to lose 13 times as FA publish full reasons into his ban

It’s found that Ivan Toney bet on his own team to lose 13 times as the FA publish their full reasons into his eight-month ban this week.

The 27 year old was revealed to have been diagnosed with gambling addiction after he admitted lying to the FA regarding betting on football.

He also provided inside information about when he would be starting a match to a friend.

‼️ Further details of Ivan Toney’s betting breaches… pic.twitter.com/Tiww1bT1CJ

— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 26, 2023

In the FA’s written reasons, published on Friday, it is revealed that the Premier League player:

– Placed 13 bets on his own team between August 2017 and March 2018, with 11 of those against Newcastle, his parent club, while on loan at Wigan

– Informed a friend that he would start his next club’s match in March 2018

– Admitted to lying during his first interview with the FA when questioned about the gambling charges

It was also stated in the FA’s report that Toney didn’t play in any of the matches where he bet against his parent club.

A section of the FA’s report on Friday read: ‘Of those 29 bets, there were 13 bets on Mr Toney’s own team to lose in 7 different matches between 22 August 2017 and 3 March 2018. 

‘Mr Toney did not play in any of those matches where he placed bets against his loan club as he was not in the match squad or against his parent club as he was on loan. 

‘Of the 13 bets 11 were against Newcastle whilst Mr Toney was on loan at another club. The other 2 bets related to a game between Wigan v Aston Villa whilst the player was on loan at Wigan but he was not part of the squad.

‘A further 15 of the 126 bets or instructions to bet were placed by Mr Toney to score in 9 different matches all of which he played in.’

It was reported in February that Toney pleaded guilty to most of the 262 betting allegations brought by the FA the previous year.

An independent disciplinary panel imposed an eight-month ban and a £50,000 fine after a hearing held this month.

Toney will be banned from playing until the 16th of January 2024 due to the high number of violations and the fact that all the bets took place over a four-year period, between February 2017 and January 2021.

Toney won’t be allowed to train with Brentford before September. He will have no choice but to exercise on his own to remain fit.

The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons regarding Ivan Toney’s recent sanctions have now been published here: https://t.co/it306kVGqN

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) May 26, 2023

Brentford released a statement on Friday in response to finding out that Ivan Toney bet on his own team to lose 13 times as the FA publish full reasons into his ban.

It read: ‘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 judgement has been published on the FA website. Ivan and Brentford FC accept that offences were committed, and sanctions were inevitable.

‘The commission noted that none of the charges related to events where Ivan could negatively impact his own team.’

England manager Gareth Southgate questioned the length the suspension when he announced the squad for the match against Malta and North Macedonia. He was concerned that Brentford’s striker might be left out during the suspension.

Southgate challenged the terms of his employer’s punishment, which prevented Toney from training with Brentford before September.

‘I have spoken with (Toney),’ he said. ‘I don’t know if that’s allowed, by the way. If it isn’t then they can ban me and not add to his ban. 

‘Look, the ban is the ban. It is what it is. He recognised and accepted the punishment. What bothers me is we’ve got to look after people.

‘He’s injured at the moment. What does he do about getting fit? How do we give him some structure over the next few months that he can develop himself or be a better person at the end of it, or have experiences that he might not experience?

‘I don’t like the idea that we just leave somebody so they are not allowed to be a part of the football community.

‘I don’t think that’s how we should work, I don’t think that’s how the best rehabilitation programmes work.’

On whether Toney could still be named in his squad for Euro 2024 next summer, Southgate added: ‘Without a doubt, it is possible for him.’

Help for problems with gambling

Problems with gambling can harm your health and relationships, and leave you in serious debt.

If your gambling is causing problems for you or your loved ones and you’d like to stop, support and treatment is available.

Are you having problems with gambling?

Try this questionnaire:

• Do you bet more than you can afford to lose?
• Do you need to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling?
• Have you tried to win back money you have lost (chasing losses)?
• Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
• Have you wondered whether you have a problem with gambling?
• Has your gambling caused you any health problems, including feelings of stress or anxiety?
• Have other people criticised your betting or told you that you had a problem with gambling (regardless of whether or not you thought it was true)?
• Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
• Have you ever felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

Score 0 for each time you answer “never”
Score 1 for each time you answer “sometimes”
Score 2 for each time you answer “most of the time”
Score 3 for each time you answer “almost always”

If your total score is 8 or higher, your gambling might be causing problems for you or those closest to you.

Help for people who have problems with gambling

There’s evidence that gambling can be successfully treated in the same way as other addictions. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) usually has the best results.

Treatment and support groups are available for people who want to stop gambling.

GamCare

GamCare offers free information, support and counselling for people who have problems with gambling in the UK.

It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling. The helpline is free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The National Centre for Behavioural Addictions

If you live in England or Wales, are aged 13 or over and have complex problems related to gambling, you can refer yourself to the National Problem Gambling Clinic, which includes the Young Persons’ Problem Gambling Clinic.

Find out more on the National Centre for Behavioural Addictions website

NHS Northern Gambling Service

The NHS Northern Gambling Service provides specialist addiction therapy in the north of England, including the north Midlands.

Find out about referrals and contacting the Northern Gambling Service

NHS Southern Gambling Service

The NHS Southern Gambling Service offers a specialist service providing treatment to people experiencing problems with gambling.

Find out more about referrals on the Southern Gambling Service website

West Midlands Gambling Harm Clinic

The West Midlands Gambling Harm Clinic provides specialist addiction therapy for people who have problems with gambling.

Find out more on the West Midlands Gambling Harm Clinic website

Gordon Moody Association

Gordon Moody offers residential courses for people who have problems with gambling.

You can email help@gordonmoody.org.uk or call 01384 241292 to find out more.

It also runs the Gambling Therapy website, which offers online support to people who have problems with gambling and their friends and family.

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous runs local support groups that use the same 12-step approach to recovery from addiction as Alcoholics Anonymous.

There are also GamAnon support groups for friends and family.

Things you can do if gambling is causing you problems

Do:

• pay important bills, such as your mortgage, on payday before you gamble
• spend more time with family and friends who do not gamble
• deal with your debts rather than ignoring them – visit the National Debtline for tips

Don’t:

• do not view gambling as a way to make money – try to see it as entertainment instead
• do not bottle up your worries about your gambling – talk to someone
• do not take credit cards with you when you go gambling