Ivan Toney says timing of news of betting ban was 'spiteful' and rues missing World Cup with England

Ivan Toney has called the timing of the news around his breaching betting rules “spiteful” – and says missing the World Cup was a bigger punishment than an eight-month suspension. Brentford forward Toney was banned for eight months in May after admitting to 232 breaches of Football Association betting rules. Ad The allegations originally came to light in November ahead of England's squad announcement for the 2022 World Cup.

Premier LeagueRadrizzani agrees to sell £170m stake in Leeds United10/06/2023 AT 08:09 Although FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said Toney was not selected on “footballing grounds”, the 27-year-old said not going to Qatar was the “biggest punishment”. “In a way it’s like get it out now so you don’t go England and then all of a sudden they want to wait until the end of the season to do the kind of things, but listen it is what it is,” he told . “If they want to do it that way, I call it a bit spiteful but it is what it is and you just have to get on with it.

“The biggest punishment, even though I miss eight months of football, that was the biggest punishment to miss out on a World Cup — everyone’s dream — it is bigger than missing eight months of football. I believe in myself and hopefully I will be at the next one.” Toney, who was given a reduced ban because of a diagnosed gambling addiction, can’t train with Brentford until September and will not be allowed to play again until January 17, 2024. He says he doesn’t want any sympathy and has vowed to come back a “different animal”.