Southgate unaware of bets probe into Toney
GARETH SOUTHGATE was unaware of the FA’s investigation into allegations that Ivan Toney breached betting rules when he picked the Brentford striker in his most recent England squad. Toney remains eligible for the World Cup squad Southgate will name on Thursday, but with FA investigators confident they have enough evidence to charge him the England manager has been given an additional problem he could do without as he finalises plans for Qatar. Toney is accused of breaching betting rules by placing multiple bets on football earlier in his playing career, as revealed by MailOnline on Saturday evening, which is strictly prohibited for all players in the Premier League, EFL, National League and Women’s Super League. The 26-year-old began his career at hometown club Northampton before moving to Newcastle and Peterborough, where he established himself as a prolific goalscorer to earn a £10million move to Brentford
two years ago. Toney’s superb performances since Brentford were promoted to the Premier League last year, including eight goals in 13 games this season, earned him a call-up for England’s UEFA Nations League games against Italy and Germany in September. While Toney did not play in either fixture, he has continued to impress for Brentford and is competing for a place in Southgate’s squad as back-up striker to captain Harry Kane.
The FA have not told Southgate that he cannot pick Toney despite the potential for the controversy to create a distraction ahead of the World Cup. Southgate was only recently informed of the FA’s betting probe as their disciplinary department is understood to be close to recommending that Toney is charged. Meanwhile, the FA last night condemned FIFA for failing to deliver on promises to set up a compensation fund and workers centre for migrants in Doha. A strongly-worded statement — released in conjunction with nine other European countries who have qualified for the World Cup — took FIFA to task after last week’s extraordinary letter from president Gianni Infantino, who had instructed the competing nations to stick to talking about football during the tournament. ‘Embracing diversity and tolerance also means supporting human rights,’ the statement read. ‘Human rights are universal and they apply everywhere.
‘We will continue to support the momentum for positive change and continue to advocate for a conclusive outcome and update on the two key outstanding issues we have been discussing with FIFA for a long time.
‘FIFA have repeatedly committed to deliver concrete answers on these issues — the compensation fund for migrant workers, and the concept of a migrant workers’ centre to be created in Doha — and we will continue to press for these to be delivered.
‘We believe in the power of football to make further positive contributions to progressive, sustainable change in the world.’