Ivan Toney's Heartbreak: The Shocking Truth Behind his Exclusion from England's 2022 World Cup Squad

Ivan Toney expressed that being left out of the 26-player England squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, followed by being charged with breaching betting rules, made him feel as though there was a malicious intent behind it. These events unfolded as Toney's hopes of being selected by Gareth Southgate were shattered on November 10, only for the charges to arise six days later.

In May of this year, the Brentford striker received an eight-month ban from participating in any football-related activities. This occurred after he confessed to committing 232 violations of the Football Association's betting regulations. Following this, the 27-year-old believed that the timing of the allegations being disclosed was connected to his exclusion from the team.

"I believe it ultimately boils down to the accusations, but from my perspective, the timing of when they chose to unveil everything and how they handled the situation towards the conclusion of the season was rather dubious," he expressed to Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO podcast.

"For me, the most significant repercussion was not being able to participate in the World Cup. During that period, I felt immense pain and disappointment, as though someone deliberately aimed to hinder my participation in representing England. That was undoubtedly the most challenging experience."

Toney was available for selection until the regulatory commission handed down their decision and imposed a ban on him this year. His exclusion from the World Cup squad was based on footballing reasons.

The timeline of the case was determined by independent panel chairs after consulting with both parties, not by the FA.

Toney was chosen to participate in England's Euro 2024 qualifiers in March, which occurred after the charge was made and before the ban was enforced.

Addressing the situation, Southgate stated, "Ivan is currently eligible to play for his club. Since no trial or verdict has taken place, we have no reason to exclude him from selection."

"He is performing exceptionally. I appreciate his outstanding performance during matches, and he truly deserves the chance he has been given."

Toney, who is barred from playing until January 17 next year but can resume training on September 17, contended that his penalty was unjustly severe in comparison to the punishments imposed on previous players at lower levels for similar infractions.

When asked if the FA had intended to set a precedent with his case, he responded, "I do believe so, yes."

"In my opinion, it's unjust. We did examine certain scenarios that were somewhat comparable or even more severe, and their consequences were not as severe as mine. Given the fact that I currently excel in the Premier League and am making strides towards playing for England, it feels like they are seizing this opportunity to penalize me."

The current situation makes me feel that the most challenging part is happening right now. Normally, I would be participating in football matches, but I am unable to be around the players or at the football ground.

If it weren't for my mental strength, this situation could be devastating for some individuals. We often discuss the importance of mental health, so how does this exclusion from the football environment benefit players?

Toney confessed that he initially refused to acknowledge his involvement in football betting when confronted by the FA. However, he later cooperated with the investigation. He maintained that he does not remember placing bets on his own team to lose.

"In the 232 instances of misconduct, there were some bets that I cannot recall making. Nevertheless, I was prepared to accept responsibility in order to expedite the resolution of the matter. Having that hanging over me while trying to focus on my career is definitely not the most pleasant experience," he expressed.

The 27-year-old admitted that his reason for using someone else to place bets on his behalf was to conceal his spending habits from his parents, not the authorities.

Considering Toney's diagnosis as a gambling addict, the FA opted for a relatively short suspension.

He explained that he never considered the downsides. With the amount of money he had, he always thought, "It's okay, I'll make it up at the end of the month." He simply waited for payday.

His stubbornness played a role, as he convinced himself that he could quit whenever he wanted. He refused to acknowledge the possibility. He viewed it as a half chance—perhaps he could have stopped, but the excitement was what fueled him.

Toney, a parent of three young children, firmly claimed that he has completely ceased his gambling habits. He expressed, "I believe it's due to being constantly in the public eye. If I were to enter these establishments (betting shops), the overriding feeling would be embarrassment. I simply wouldn't allow myself to indulge in it."

He further explained, "One tends to reflect upon the significant amount of money wasted and the possibilities it could have been used for, especially now that I have responsibilities towards others. I perceive this behavior as being naive."

Toney expressed gratitude to Thomas Frank, the manager of Brentford, as well as Southgate for their supportive gestures, affirming his determination to return even more resilient. Additionally, he remarked, "Although I don't feel the need to prove anyone wrong, there exists a substantial number of detractors and skeptics who harbor doubts about my ability to regain my previous form."

They are correct, I am determined to transform into a superior version of myself, surpassing the achievements of my previous goal-scoring endeavors. My mindset and approach set me apart.

My aspiration is to represent England on the field and excel in scoring goals. I am driven to become the focal point of any team I join. Recognizing the exceptional skills of Harry Kane, who is, without a doubt, among the finest strikers globally, I am well aware of the challenge I face in reaching that caliber.