BBC SPORTS
Brentford striker Ivan Toney was given a reduced ban from football because of a diagnosed gambling addiction.
Toney, 27, was banned for eight months for breaking Football Association betting rules – including betting against his own team.
A psychiatry expert who gave evidence to the FA’s regulatory commission diagnosed Toney with a gambling addiction and concluded he needed help.
As a result, the commission reduced an 11-month sanction by three months.
In its written reasons explaining its sanction, published on Friday, the commission said Toney had admitted repeatedly lying during his initial interviews with the FA.
It added he had since ceased gambling on football, though not on other sports, and is “determined to address his gambling problem with therapy”.
The FA initially wanted to impose a 15-month ban on Toney because he attempted to conceal his betting, knowing it was against FA rules.
This included betting through third parties and deleting relevant messages from his mobile phone, it said, then knowingly giving “clearly false answers” during his interviews with the FA.
The commission did not uphold all of the FA’s claims.
His ban was reduced to 11 months given he pleaded guilty to all 232 charges before being further reduced to reflect his diagnosed addiction.
Psychiatrist Dr Philip Hopley twice interviewed Toney before his diagnosis and the commission said his evidence was “well reasoned and highly persuasive”.
Brentford have said they will “do everything possible” to support Toney with his addiction, while the player said he would “speak soon with no filter”.
Bees manager Thomas Frank added: “Football and gambling’s relationship needs a review. We got a massive reminder. Do we do enough to educate our players? The authorities have a massive task to make sure we do this much better…
