Ivan Toney bet against his own club, report reveals

Ivan Toney bet on his own team to lose and has been diagnosed as a gambling addict after the Football Association revealed its full written reasons for his eight-month ban from football.

Toney was fined £50,000 after he was charged with 262 breaches of the FA’s betting rules between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021 before the FA withdrew 30 of the breaches, and the 27-year-old admitted to the remaining 232.

His ban started last week and runs until January 2024 with the written reasons for the lengthy ban being released by the FA. Toney bet on both Newcastle and Wigan to lose games while he was on loan at the latter from the former in 2017-18, however, there were not games in which he was playing.

“There were 13 bets on Mr Toney’s own team to lose in 7 different matches between 22 August 2017 and 3 March 2018,” the report revealed.

“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.”

Toney took to Twitter after the written reasons were released to say: “I’ll speak soon with no filter.”

Toney admitted to lying to the FA about betting on football and providing inside information to a friend on when he was starting a game. He also bet on himself to score in a number of matches.

“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,” said the report.

“All of those 15 bets or instructions to bet were initiated by Mr Toney at a time when it would not have been public knowledge that he was starting or playing in the fixture.”

Ban reduced

The Brentford player was due to be handed a 15-month ban but the suspension was cut to eight months because he pleaded guilty and was diagnosed with a gambling addiction.

Psychiatrist Dr Philip Hopley twice interviewed Toney before his diagnosis and the commission said his evidence was “well reasoned and highly persuasive”.

“The commission finds that a significant reduction should be made to reflect the diagnosed gambling addiction identified by Dr Hopley,” the report added.

“The lack of control the player has in respect of gambling is clearly a reflection of his diagnosed gambling addiction.

“The present case is not one of match-fixing. If it was, the charges would have been pursued under different provisions.

“There is no evidence that Mr Toney did or was even in a position to influence his own team to lose when he placed bets against them winning - he was not in the squad or eligible to play at the time.”

Frank: Need to review relationship between football and gambling

Speaking ahead of Brentford’s final game of the season against Manchester City, Brentford boss Thomas Frank said: “I’m bang on with Gareth (Southgate). I think it was a fantastic point he made. Yes, Ivan did something wrong and got punished for it. What I don’t get at all, is how can you not let him be involved in football for the first four months?

“What do you gain from that? If you want to rehabilitate people, give them education. Now it’s like, there is a sanction, leave you to yourself, find out, die or survive.

“It’s not only Ivan. He is an example for all in the football world to learn from. We also need to review the relationship between football and gambling. I don’t have the answer.

“I don’t think it’s me who needs to answer that question. There is no doubt for me, the first four months he should be forced to go into 100 schools, talk about his background, football, everything. I think that is how it should work.

“I will go down on the same lines as Gareth Southgate. If I can’t speak to him, I guess they will have to ban me as well. If I’m not allowed to speak to him on a support level, there must be something wrong. I think you’re actually even allowed to contact people in prison, so I guess I’m allowed.”