Toney

[MidsMagpie]

So Toney has been banned for 8 months so half of that will be close and pre season the ban should start from the opening day of next season.

[Xamand]

I'm somewhat conflicted on this tbh.
Firstly, sportsmen most definitely should not be making bets (or giving inside tips to friends - Tripps) on the sport they are involved in, however, I do think that Toney's punishment is a bit excessive, the same as Rio Ferdinand's drug test suspension.

I do also find the whole thing somewhat hypocritical considering the absolute deluge of betting advertising that surrounds football, from shirt sponsors to all the pitchside hoardings, half time tv adverts and even the football league itself being sponsored by a betting company. It all needs to go asap imo

[toptoon]

To be fair, shirt sponsorship by betting companies will be banned.
Toney’s been stupid but I think the ban is quite severe.

[Jammy89]

Aye, if he'd got a move to Man Utd or LiVARpool in Jan it wouldn't be this severe

[Zippity]

Aye, if he'd got a move to Man Utd or LiVARpool in Jan it wouldn't be this severe

I don't doubt it!

Mind, on that point, thhat's scuppered a big money move this Summer. He's been a very silly boy-this Summer, he could have moved to almost any of the big clubs barring City.

He's clearly a bit of a dick, too. Those videos of him saying he doesn't play for anyone interesting and then saying 'fuck Brentford' and now this? Not quite Nile Ranger but...

[HughieG]

Does he have a gambling problem or has he simply acted carelessly and irresponsibly?

If it's the former, then I don't think this ban is the way to go. He needs to have his addiction sorted and get back on the football pitch asap.

If it's the latter, I think the penalty is fair enough. It just can't be tolerated.

[toptoon]

There’s a big scandal here in Brazil currently over player involvement in match fixing e.g. players being paid to pick up a yellow card in a certain game. This should receive a life ban IMO.
As I understand it Toney has bet on football match results for games he wasn’t playing in? If he’s addicted to gambling (even) but doesn’t bet on football then there should be no problem for the football authorities.