Ivan Toney had originally been charged over 232 alleged breaches of betting rules in November; the Brentford forward was charged with a further 30 alleged breaches of FA betting rules in December; Toney has also denied some of the charges which occurred between 2017 and 2021
Thursday 2 March 2023 11:52, UK
Ivan Toney says he is "shocked, disappointed... and worried about the process" after details of his ongoing FA betting case emerged this week.
After the Daily Mail revealed Toney had admitted to some of the 262 alleged breaches of gambling rules, while denying others, Sky Sports News reported on Wednesday that the case is now back in the hands of the FA.
In a statement on his Instagram, the 26-year-old Brentford striker said his lawyers will be writing to the FA to request a "leak inquiry", expressing his disappointment that details about the case had emerged in the media.
He said: "I was shocked and disappointed to see press speculation yesterday and today about the FA investigation process concerning me after I have been told by the FA that it is a confidential process until any decision has been made.
"It is especially disturbing for me to read that the FA is saying I shall be banned from football for six months before there has even been a hearing and it does make me worried about the process.
"My lawyers will be writing to the FA to request that they conduct a leak inquiry, as this is the second time stories have appeared in the newspapers - the last time was just before the selection for the England World Cup squad.
"As I continue to be told the investigation is meant to be confidential, I am unable to provide any further comment and shall continue to concentrate on my football."
Toney had originally been charged over 232 alleged breaches of betting rules in November, with the charges occurring between February 2017 and January 2021. The following month, Toney was charged with a further 30 alleged breaches of FA betting rules.
The FA will now go through Toney's response to the charges before issuing a hearing date. It will be then down to an Independent Regulatory Commission to reach a verdict and issue a subsequent punishment.
The commission will decide whether to dismiss or uphold any charges denied by Toney, based on the evidence, and will take into account his unique set of circumstances. They will then take a cumulative look at all the offences before deciding his punishment.
Sky Sports News understands Toney is facing a ban of at least six months if he is found to have bet on his own team. He was playing for Scunthorpe, Wigan, Peterborough and Brentford during the period in question from 2017 to 2021.
It is in Brentford's interests that Toney be banned as soon as possible so that he can be available for as many games as possible next season. Any ban will include the summer months and the Bees are in a strong position in the table this term.
Toney was charged with 232 counts of breaking FA betting rules last November, shortly before England's 2022 World Cup squad was announced, and it was then increased to 262 in December.
The Football Association and Brentford have declined to comment.
Betting on football is banned worldwide for all players, managers, coaches, club staff, directors and licensed agents involved in the game within the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super League, Women's Championship and the Northern, Southern and Isthmian leagues.
Participants covered by the ban are prohibited from betting, either directly or indirectly, on any football match or competition that takes place anywhere in the world.
The ban also includes betting on any other football-related matter such as the transfer of players, managerial appointments or team selection.
The passing of inside information to somebody that uses the information for betting is also not allowed. Inside information is information that you are aware of due to your position in the game and which is not publicly available, like injury or team selection news.
You are not allowed to use inside information to place a bet or to instruct someone else to do so on your behalf. Equally, you are not allowed to pass inside information on to someone else which they use for betting.
