The English Football Association has explained why Brentford striker Ivan Toney was banned for betting violations.Toney admitted to 232 betting rule violations between February 2017 and January 2021. As a result, Toney has been barred from participating in any football activity until January 17.

Toney placed 29 bets, according to the FA investigation, with one particularly troubling discovery. 13 of those wagers were placed on Toney’s own team to lose in seven different matches between August 2017 and March 2018.

“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,” the statement said.

“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.”

“There is no evidence that Mr Toney did or was even in a position to influence his own team to lose when he placed bets against them winning – he was not in the squad or eligible to play at the time.”

Players are strictly prohibited from betting on games or sharing information for betting purposes.