Ivan Toney claims betting on football rules a “grey area” in the past
Brentford striker breaks his silence on his ban in candid interview with Steven Bartlett as he laments training ground exile
Ivan Toney has claimed betting on football was a “grey area” in his first interview since being handed an eight-month ban from the sport.
Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, the Brentford and England striker suggested he had received little to no education around the rules regarding footballers being allowed to place bets.
Toney was handed an eight-month ban and a £50,000 fine after it was established he breached FA Rule E8 232 times between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021.
Toney said: “It was a grey area. The clubs I’ve been at; the beginning of every season they’d have someone come in but not actually tell you what you can and can’t bet on. It was just his experience [of betting].
“[They’d] talk on their experience of betting [but] not that you can’t bet on football. You’d hear you can, you’d hear you can’t [bet].”
The former Newcastle player confirmed there were some bets charged against him he didn’t recall making, but that he was “willing to take responsibility to get the process all over and done with”.
Toney, who admitted to betting on himself to score and for his own team to lose when he wasn’t playing, revealed he began gambling at the age of 15.
When pressed on why he had had friends make bets on his behalf, Toney claimed he did not want evidence being posted to his parent’s house.
Elsewhere, the Brentford forward touched on the extent of his punishment, citing his issue with being banned from training with the club.
As part of the penalty, Toney was banned from all football-related activity for eight months, however he will be allowed to return to training from 17 September.
He will not be able to play again until 16 January 2024.
Toney continued: “It doesn’t add up with the things [the FA] push forward. The whole football community is big on mental health and the FA go and do this and push me away from the whole football environment.
“So, what if someone not as strong as me in the head is going through this situation and their punishment is they are not allowed at the club – that would break them. It’s not a nice feeling. Not being allowed at the training ground is baffling to me,” he added.
Toney, who will be looking to add to his single England cap on his return, confirmed he no longer gambles.
“Being in the public eye, if I was seen going to these places, it’s more the embarrassment. I wouldn’t allow myself. You take a backseat and look at all the money you lost and what it could have went on.
“I take full responsibility for the punishment I’m getting. Looking back on what I’ve done, would I change some bits? Probably. It is what is. The man I am now, continuing forward is different to what I was before,” he concluded.