SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The FA has confirmed they have charged Nottingham Forest fullback Harry Toffolo for breaching its betting rules. Toffolo has until Wednesday, 19 July to respond to the charges.
It is alleged that the defender violated FA Rule E1 (b) and broke the rule 375 times from 22 January, 2014, to 18 March, 2017 when he was playing for Norwich City whilst being out on-loan on to clubs such as Swindon, Rotherham, Peterborough and Scunthorpe.
Last season, the player made 21 appearances for Nottingham Forest under Steve Cooper, helping them avoid relegation and remain in the league.
Nonetheless, in February the Forest man was seemingly on the cusp of a loan move to Anderlecht, before Cooper opted to keep him at the City Ground.
Toffolo becomes the latest high-profile Premier League player to have breached FA betting rules after Brentford’s Ivan Toney received an eight month ban for 232 violations.
England manager Gareth Southgate was critical of the severity of the punishment levelled at Toney, highlighting the importance of rehabilitation and support following the suspension.
Responding to the decision, Southgate told the media: “The ban is the ban. He’s recognised and accepted the punishment. What bothers me is we’ve got to look after people.
“He’s injured at the moment, what does he do about getting fit? How do we give him some structure over the next few months so that he can develop himself or be a better person at the end of it or have experiences that he might not experience?
“I don’t like the idea that we just leave somebody, that they’re not allowed to be part of the football community. I don’t think that’s how we should work, how the best rehabilitation programmes work.”
