England striker Ivan Toney calls Football Association 'spiteful' over handling of gambling ban

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England striker Ivan Toney has described the Football Association as "spiteful" for its handling of his ban for breaking betting rules.

Toney was handed an eight-month suspension last month after admitting to 232 counts of breaching English soccer’s betting rules.

The FA announced Toney had been charged with 262 breaches in November, effectively ruling him out of contention for the World Cup in Qatar, but had to wait until May before receiving his ban and a fine of 50,000 pounds ($62,000).

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Ivan Toney of Brentford looks on during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Nottingham Forest at Brentford Community Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Brentford, England.  (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

"It came out just before the England camp," the Brentford striker said in an interview on Kick Game’s YouTube channel that was released Monday. "Obviously I missed that and the World Cup. Honestly, that would have been my biggest dream.

"It was like, get it out now so he doesn’t go with England, and then all of a sudden they want to wait until the end of the season. It is what it is, if they want to do it that way. I call it a bit spiteful, but it is what it is."

Toney said missing the World Cup was a "bigger punishment" than his actual ban.

An independent commission said in its report that Toney’s punishment could have been worse if not for the diagnosis of a gambling addiction.

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Ivan Toney #17 of Brentford in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford at Anfield,