Brentford striker Ivan Toney was given a reduced ban from football because of a diagnosed gambling addiction.
Earlier this month Toney was banned for eight months after he accepted breaking Football Association betting rules.
A psychiatry expert who gave evidence to the FA’s regulatory commission diagnosed Toney with a gambling addiction and concluded he needed professional 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, before knowingly giving “clearly false answers” during his interviews with the FA.
However, his ban was reduced to 11 months given he pleaded guilty to all 232 charges, before it was further reduced to reflect his diagnosed addiction.
More to follow.
