The English forward from Brentford was suspended from football for eight months due to sports betting.
Embed from Getty Images
Ivan Toney is about to complete an eight-month suspension imposed by the Football Association (FA) in May 2023, due to sports betting, and admitted this Monday that the sanction made him lose his “love” for the sport.
"I didn't watch football for a while. In a way, I punished myself. There was a time when I probably lost my love for football. Missing games and not being with my teammates was hard. I was confused, but what's done is done, I can't keep thinking about those things. Life isn't fair, we know that, and the more we worry about it, the more it will hurt us,” he shared, in an interview with Sky Sports and the Daily Mirror.
The 27-year-old English forward also emphasized his intention to repay the support he received from Brentford in the second half of the season, by helping the club stay in the Premier League.
“The club has supported me from the beginning. The fans have supported me, which was very important. Everyone knows that Brentford is a family club, and they have been fantastic to me. I can't thank them enough, especially the fans. They also supported me from the first minute. So, it's like I have a lot to give back,” he highlighted.
During a particularly difficult time for Brentford, which hasn’t won any of its last six matches and is only four points above the relegation zone (19th place), Toney expressed his eagerness to help the team, currently ranked 16th in the league, climb up the table.
It should be noted that, last season, the forward scored 21 goals and made five assists in 35 games played for Brentford, which finished the English League in ninth place.
“Brentford is going through a tough time right now, but I'm sure that when I return, I will play an important role in getting them out of the losing streak they are in. I can't wait to get back and help my teammates. It's not pressure, it's just excitement to get back on the field. Everyone at Brentford knows I will do my best to try to get the club out of the difficult situation it's in,” he pointed out.
Toney is expected to return to action on January 20th, when the Bees will host Nuno Espírito Santo's Nottingham Forest in the 21st round of the Premier League.
