Ivan Toney in talks with Brentford amid threat of long ban after FA betting charge

Brentford were today in talks with Ivan Toney and his lawyers after the striker was charged by the FA with 232 alleged breaches of betting rules.

Toney has been charged with the alleged breaches over a four-period between 2017 and 2021 and, if found guilty, he faces a long ban. The 26-year-old striker has been given until next Thursday to respond to the charge.

Brentford said in a statement: “The club has been in discussion with Ivan and his legal representatives about this matter and those conversations will continue privately. We will make no further comment until the matter has been completed.”

Toney admitted last week that he was assisting the FA with its investigation into the breaking of gambling rules.

The 26-year-old missed out on selection for England’s World Cup squad, despite being the third top scorer in the Premier League, behind Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. England boss Gareth Southgate insisted that the investigation was not connected to his decision not to pick the striker for the 26-man squad for Qatar.

The charge relates to a period when Toney played for Scunthorpe, Wigan, Peterborough and Brentford.

The punishment for breaching FA betting rules varies from case to case, depending on a range of factors, including the number of bets and how much was staked.

If he is found to have placed bets on his own side to win, he could potentially face a six-month ban.

A statement from the FA read yesterday: “Ivan Toney has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the FA’s betting rules. [He] has until Thursday, November 24, to provide a response.”