IVAN TONEY has revealed that the "biggest punishment" he received for betting breaches was worse than being hit with an eight-month ban from football.
The Brentford striker was diagnosed with a gambling addiction after admitting 232 offences.
He was slapped with an eight-month ban that prevents him from playing until January 16 and being unable to train with his club until September.
Toney's offences were first reported in November last year and the investigation into his actions ended last month.
The 27-year-old labelled the timing of the charges "spiteful" as it scuppered his chances of earning a spot in England's World Cup squad.
Toney told Kick Game UK: "In a way it’s like get it out now so you don’t go England and then all of a sudden they want to wait until the end of the season to do the kind of things but listen it is what it is.
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"If they want to do it that way, I call it a bit spiteful but it is what it is and you just have to get on with it.
“The biggest punishment, even though I miss eight months of football, that was the biggest punishment to miss out on a World Cup — everyone’s dream — it is bigger than missing eight months of football.
"I believe in myself and hopefully I will be at the next one."
Toney recounted the aftermath of the ban being made public and has vowed to speak further on the ordeal in the future.
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He said: "I actually got a message from my Mum and you know when your Mum says something you have to listen.
"She said to me just remember cream always rises, worry about yourself, do what you want to do and do what you think is best.
"She messaged while I have been away and said listen I’ve been sick, feeling ill blah blah.
“Everyone is going crazy, your name is all on the news. I was like Mum, 'don’t worry I know'.
"I know what I am capable of and I know what I can do. If you say it’s going to ‘damage my reputation’ what I say then so be it.
"I just know deep down what I said is how I feel. If I have something to say I will say it.
“I have to concentrate on what I can do which is score goals and do well like every season and every year that has gone by.
"I have to prove people wrong like what I done when I first came into the Prem.
"They said I wouldn’t be able to score goals and I got into double figures. Next season, I scored 20 goals. So just keep getting better and better.
“For the people out there they are painting me with a certain picture which is fair enough, they can go off what they want to see but people that know me know who I am and what I am about.”
On a lack of support for gambling in football, Toney said: "A majority of football teams now are sponsored by gambling companies so it’s kind of like weigh it up.
“If that’s the rules that you shouldn’t be betting then yeah you shouldn’t be betting but for people that need help there should be more around to stop them from leading to that direction.
"When the time is right I will speak out on the majority of things and clear up things that need to be cleared up.”
"Brentford have actually been very helpful and very supportive. Everybody at the club. Loads of footballers have messaged me too.
“The support is good but how I am I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.
“I done what I done before, the punishment is the punishment and get on with it.
"Like I said I just have to focus on when I come back training. I want to be a different animal when I come back. It’s going to be frightening."
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has stood by the one-cap international and publicly supported him to make a return.
On what it was like to have his backing, Toney said: "It felt good. It is obviously going to feel good when the England manager is backing you and is standing with you.
“I feel like he sees it as harsh as well, not letting me train and or be around the team for so however long but know I have the right team behind me, the right people involved and keep going strong.
“Every season I have done better scoring much more goals and when I come back, I am hungry now to come back, when January comes like I said you will see a different animal.”
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The FA revealed last month that Toney:
- Placed 13 bets against his own team – 11 against parent club Newcastle and two against Wigan – between August 2017 and March 2018, while on loan at the Latics
- Informed a friend he would start his next club match in March 2018
- Admitted to lying during his first interview with the FA when questioned about his gambling charges
- Bet on himself to score in nine different matches
- Had his suspension almost halved to eight months for pleading guilty
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
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