Why Ivan Toney's ban for gambling was cut explained in detailed FA report

Ivan Toney's ban for 232 breaches of betting rules was slated to be for 15 months but ended up being nearly halved, it has been revealed.

A lengthy investigation resulted in Toney being banned for eight months by the FA for repeated gambling offences - as well as being hit with a £50,000 fine - for the breaches of FA rule E8 between February 2017 and January 2021.

After admitting the charge, the Brentford and England striker is prohibited from all football activity until January 17, with a full report published by the FA providing all the important written reasons.

Toney is said to have placed 29 bets involving his own team, including 13 stakes for his side to lose in seven different games - 11 of which were against parent club Newcastle while he was on loan.

The other two involve a game between Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa while he was on loan at the Lancashire outfit but not in the matchday squad.

The report also explained Toney initially lied about the bets in his first interview with the FA and used a friend's account, as well as telling a friend he was going to start his side's next game in March 2018.

FA regulations prohibit players in the Premier League, English Football League, National League and The FA Women’s Super League and The FA Women’s Championship from betting on any football matches or sharing any information.

"Of those 29 bets, 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 FA's statement read.

"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.

"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."

The punishment, of which England manager Gareth Southgate has been critical of, was decided by an independent Regulatory Commission.

It was looking like a 15-month lay-off for Toney, which was what the FA had wanted to impose.

But according to Simon Stone of the BBC, it was first reduced by four months because of the guilty plea and then a further three months after psychiatrist Dr Philip Hopley diagnosed him with a gambling addiction.

Toney is said to be "determined to address his gambling problem with therapy".

1/2. Ivan Toney written reasons fascinating. FA Commission would have given him a 15 month ban but it was cut partly because he pleaded guilty and also because an expert concluded the Brentford forward had a gambling addiction.

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) May 26, 2023

The 27-year-old will able to return to training in September and Brentford have pledged to help out their talisman and his family.

"The club will now be doing everything possible to provide support to Ivan and his family to deal with the issues raised in this case," a statement read.

"We consider this matter closed and look forward to welcoming Ivan back to training in September."