Ivan Toney claims ‘someone was out to get me’ and STOP him from representing England at the World Cup after details of his betting emerged before Qatar 2022 stating ‘it doesn’t add up in my head’

Ivan Toney claimed details of his betting emerged ahead of the World Cup because ‘somebody was out to get me’ and stop him representing England at the tournament.

Brentford striker Toney was banned from football for eight months in May and fined £50,000 after admitting 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules.

However, the allegations about his historic gambling first came to light months before and five days before Gareth Southgate named his World Cup squad leaving Toney suspicious about what he called the ‘questionable’ timing.

Six days after he was omitted by Southgate Toney was then charged by the FA and he said: ‘I feel like it was a bit of a coincidence when they decided to bring it all out and then having to be dealt with the punishment at the end of the season so far after. 

‘Yes I’m banned now but the biggest punishment was missing out on playing at the World Cup. I felt more hurt, [and] down around the time. Like somebody was out to get me, stop me playing for England. 

Toney (pictured) has been speaking on the scandal on The Diary Of A CEO podcast, but also added that his punishment ‘doesn’t add up in his head’ 

The Brentford striker is banned until January 16, 2024 after he admitted to 232 breaches of the FA’s rules on gambling

‘In my head that was how I saw it at the time. It’s everybody’s dream to be playing at the World Cup and then further down the line ban me as well. It was like a double hit. 

‘If you’re going to stop me from going to the World Cup, do it there and then and deal with the whole situation rather than doing that, missing out on the World Cup let me play for the rest of the season and then banning me after the season. It doesn’t add up in my head.’

Speaking about it publicly and in detail for the first time on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Toney described the betting scandal as his ‘lowest point.’

He spoke about the implications of being perceived as a ‘match fixer’ despite his breaches being ‘far from match fixing,’ a conclusion the FA’s independent commission reached.

Toney, who revealed he first began betting at 15, also insisted he did not lie when questioned during his five-hour interview but admitted he could not remember some of details he was being asked about.

He said: ‘When I go to certain places maybe some people don’t want to be associated with me. 

‘I remember at the time when there were allegations, I wanted to go to a restaurant and they were like “no, we’re not taking you.” [I said] “what do you mean?” [They said] “because of the allegations, we’re not allowing you in” or something like this. I was so confused. 

‘For starters, it’s allegations secondly, you’re a restaurant. How can you not let somebody in due to bad press. I was baffled. My car insurance. They wouldn’t insure me due to the whole scandal. It was baffling.’

Toney cannot train until next month or play football until January and described his ban as like being in ‘football prison.’

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Toney (pictured) was not selected as part of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad last year but was subsequently recalled to the squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers earlier this year

The striker (right) continued to play for Brentford until he received an eight-month ban back in may and was suspended

Toney (pictured) admitted the ban to be a ‘football prison’ noting that he was once blocked from entering a restaurant and could not insure his car because of it 

It dashed hopes of a move this summer for Toney, who had been watched by Chelsea among others, but that prospect could resurface when he returns.

Toney confirmed he is a Liverpool fan, spoke of his admiration for Arsenal and that he liked watching Manchester United when they had Dimitar Berbatov when asked about potential future destinations.

He added: ‘Everybody wants to play at the top of the tree, not that Brentford aren’t there, but I feel like playing for a big club, fighting for trophies everybody wants to do and if the chance was to come along I’d be silly not to look into it.

‘The [Brentford] manager [Thomas Frank] knows I want to be playing at the highest level possible and whenever that time comes so be it but my time at Brentford has been good. Probably one of the best times in my career.’