England World Cup hopeful Ivan Toney posts a tweet on football betting allegations made against him with the FA reported investigating.
Toney hasn’t been charged with any offence but it’s thought that the investigation has been going on for as long as seven months and has not yet reached its conclusion.
The investigation is understood to relate to alleged gambling activity during his time as a player in the lower leagues and prior to his move to Brentford.
EXCL: Ivan Toney is being investigated by the FA over gambling allegations | @OllieHolt22 https://t.co/xb4m2noIfv
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) November 5, 2022
It’s also believed there is no suggestion that the Brentford striker ever gambled on his own team to lose.
Toney, who was selected in Gareth Southgate’s most recent England squad but has yet to make his debut, is said to be devastated by the leaking of news of the investigation and the timing of it.
He is desperate to play for his country and to make Southgate’s World Cup squad, which will be named on Thursday.
He was proud to be called into the team for the recent Nations League ties and now hopes that the news of the investigation will not affect his chances.
Toney is viewed as the ideal back-up for England captain Harry Kane, not only because of the form he has been in for Brentford but because he is a confident successful penalty taker who would be a prime asset if England are involved in shootouts at the World Cup.
Toney took to Twitter on Saturday to release a statement. It read: ‘I’m aware of a story about me in a national newspaper today. I have been assisting the Football Association with their enquiries and will not be making any comment until such investigation has reached its conclusion. I am a proud Englishman and it has always been my childhood dream to play for my country at a World Cup Finals.’
Brentford released a very short statement on Saturday regarding the investigation, which read: ‘We note the story concerning Ivan Toney and the FA investigation. The club will not be commenting.’
— Ivan Toney (@ivantoney24) November 5, 2022
Thomas Frank doesn’t believe that Ivan Toney’s absence on Saturday will affect his chances of receiving an England call-up for the forthcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Toney received his fifth yellow card of the season against Wolves, meaning he is suspended for the Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest, which finished in a 2-2 draw.
But his head coach thinks Gareth Southgate will have all but decided his final squad – and the Bees boss believes Toney should be included when it’s announced next week.
The Brentford boss said: “I can only speak for myself but, if I was a national team manager, I would have my team and squad ready. The only difference would be players with injuries or whatever.
“The last-minute performances… I don’t really think it matters, to be fair. Never say never – if you score four goals in the next two games as a striker, that’s probably a good thing if you’re on the borderline.
“But I think, in this case, Southgate will probably be pretty sure of who he’s going to pick.”
When asked if he thinks Toney has done enough, Frank added: “For me, yes! I think you need a specialist in a squad with 26 players.
“I think he’s a specialist, not only in penalties, I think that’s an extra plus, of course, we’ve joked a bit about that, but also his ability to score goals, coming in and arriving in the box.
“Because [of England’s previous penalty shootout record] it’s been made a bigger, bigger thing.”
“I think he’s a specialist. Not only on the penalties, I think that’s just an extra plus.”
Thomas Frank believes Ivan Toney has done enough to be included in the England squad for the World Cup👇 #BrentfordFC #ThreeLions
Watch more: https://t.co/lkvinAeNnK pic.twitter.com/kYIaR3axtQ
— West London Sport (@WestLondonSport) November 4, 2022
This is what social media users had to say as Ivan Toney posts a tweet on football betting allegations made against him…
@JadePhelps64: I honestly don’t think you have done anything.
@d15s__: He would have said it was fake then
@BaldoooNorris: Joke they are trying to stop you 🏴
@Mal1xe: i honestly wouldnt bet on it mate
@johnrawes: Translation: please still pick me, even if I do like a bet
@sambee71: I wish people would leave the poor guy alone!! He is a great footballer who has a great personality! People need to get a life! And let him Live his! 🐝🐝
@QPRTravels: Typical media. I hope they don’t ruin your England chances.
@LuisAdrianoUK: Stay strong. If you and Rico don’t make the 🏴 WC squad then I have little interest in the three lions. Not sure who has it in for you both.
@XJoseph0: Someone’s got it in for you bringing this crap up right before the WC. It’s a total non-story, ridiculous
@bfc_kev: The timing of it is absolutely embarrassing from the media, people really love to do everything they can to bring others down. Unfortunately @OllieHolt22 is a jealous Tory snitch.
@KayGeeSnazz: This is some bullshit, just take the man on the fucking plane to Qatar, fuck the media in this country 🥱 always tryna bring man down for some bullshit, the world cups this month and these man are tryna block chances, he’s not even the only one
@Ogz_13: Daily Mail are c*nts
@Hunner6times: What were the odds on that!?
@darraghbucks94: Callum Wilson and Tammy Abraham snitching to the papers about my 👑. #GetHimOnThePlane
@Bees1889K: The daily mail are pricks. Absolute pricks. He’s been investigated for 7 months with no conclusion over gambling before he joined the club. That’s at least THREE YEARS AGO. The announcement next week could be the biggest moment in his whole career and they are trying to destroy it
@AgentOrd: Any bets mate?
@MC_of_A: I assume the final sentence is just a non sequitur but for fun been trying to figure out what scandal he could have been involved in where that’s something he needs to clear up
@Simon_MorleyNHS: English media doing there upmost to assist in ruining our World Cup chances yet again. Not saying Ivan is our save and grace but imagine missing out because some rag waits 7 months to write this! The article even starts with world Cup hopeful Ivan Toney 🤦♂️😡
@MadKDog: Newspapers are back to destroying any chance we had to win the World Cup by rattling the players beforehand. Next week Kane will have a drug problem allegedly… scum media!
@Jon_Chalk1: Anything they can find to keep him out of the England squad 🙄
@PureBarclays: Hollywood Bets on the shirt. Stadiums named after gambling sites. Gambling on every advert break. Gambling on the advertising boards. Sponsor the television program…..But gambling is terrible and we must dish out punishments for any player that gambles. Because it’s wrong…
@scott_gambier: 11/8 he gets off.
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