FA to insist on worldwide ban for Ivan Toney after breaching betting rules

The Football Association (FA) are expected to apply to FIFA to make the eight-month football ban imposed on Brentford striker Ivan Toney a worldwide sanction (via Football Daily).

It was revealed yesterday that Toney has been fined £50,000 and banned from all football activity until January next year for breaching FA betting rules.

Toney was initially charged by the FA in November with over 232 alleged breaches of betting rules tallied over four years, and 30 more were added in December.

After admitting to 232 of the 262 betting allegations, his sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing.

The ban is a major blow for the player and his club, who will have to cope without their striker for the remainder of the season.

Toney was absent when the Bees made light work of London rivals West Ham United last weekend, running out 2-0 winners at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Thomas Frank’s side will also be without the England international for their remaining fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, with Toney set for an extended spell away from football.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed a blistering goalscoring campaign for the Bees, racking up 20 goals in 33 Premier League appearances.

Only Man City and Premier League top scorer Erling Braut Haaland and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane have scored more goals than Toney this term.

His performances has earned interest from Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea, with the latter shortlisting him amid their search for a new striker.

However, his sanction will prove a major stumbling block to any potential departure, with the striker unavailable for matchday fixtures until early next year.

There is ongoing speculation that Brentford will look to send Toney abroad on a short-term loan deal, but the FA is set to block any transfer by launching an appeal for a worldwide sanction.