LONDON — England striker Ivan Toney has described the Football Association as “spiteful” for its dealing with of his ban for breaking betting guidelines.
Toney was handed an eight-month suspension final month after admitting to 232 counts of breaching English soccer’s betting guidelines.
The FA introduced Toney had been charged with 262 breaches in November, successfully ruling him out of rivalry for the World Cup in Qatar, however needed to wait till May earlier than receiving his ban and a nice of fifty,000 kilos ($62,000).
“It came out just before the England camp,” the Brentford striker stated in an interview on Kick Game’s YouTube channel that was launched Monday. “Obviously I missed that and the World Cup. Honestly, that might have been my largest dream.
“It was like, get it out now so he doesn’t go with England, and then all of a sudden they want to wait until the end of the season. It is what it is, if they want to do it that way. I call it a bit spiteful, but it is what it is.”
Toney stated lacking the World Cup was a “bigger punishment” than his precise ban.
An unbiased fee stated in its report that Toney’s punishment may have been worse if not for the prognosis of a playing dependancy.
Among the costs, 29 bets or directions to guess associated to golf equipment Toney was registered with or on mortgage with on the time.
Toney didn’t play in any of the seven totally different video games wherein 13 bets have been positioned on his personal group to lose. There have been 15 bets on him to attain in matches wherein he did play.
“None of it was match-fixing,” Toney stated. “None of what I did or was accused of doing, none of it was match-fixing. If it was I understand that, ban me for eight months or if not longer.”
England coach Gareth Southgate has been vital of the wide-reaching nature of Toney’s ban, which prohibits him from coaching till Sept. 17 and from enjoying once more till Jan. 17.
Toney stated he was grateful for Southgate’s assist and in addition for that proven by his membership, and desires to come back again as a fair higher participant. He completed the season third within the Premier League’s scoring chart with 20 targets.
“It felt good – obviously, it’s going to, the England manager backing you and standing with you,” Toney stated. “I believe he in all probability sees it as a bit harsh as effectively, not letting me prepare or be across the group for nevertheless lengthy. But I’ve obtained the suitable folks round me.
“Every season I’ve got better, scoring more goals, and I’m hungry now to get back. When January comes, you’re going to see a different animal.”
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