Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney's hopes of going to the World Cup will not be impacted by an FA investigation into allegations of historical gambling, according to a report.
On Saturday evening, a report from the Daily Mail stated that the forward was under investigation by the governing body over accusations of gambling during his time in the lower leagues.
Toney has supposedly been investigated for over seven months, although he has not been charged with an offence, and there is nothing to suggest that he ever bet on his own team to lose.
The 26-year-old is said to have been left "devastated" by news of the leak, as he has his heart set on earning a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the Qatar World Cup.
However, The Mirror claims that the FA investigation will not jeopardize Toney's chances of representing his country at the winter tournament.
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The report adds that while the FA have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, Toney is still eligible to be called up for club and country before a conclusion is reached.
The Brentford man released a statement on social media in the wake of the report's release, affirming that he was assisting the FA with their investigation.
"I'm aware of a story about me in a national newspaper today. I have been assisting the Football Association with their enquiries and will not be making any comment until such investigation has reached its conclusion," Toney said. "I am a proud Englishman and it has always been my childhood dream to play for my country at a World Cup Finals."
The striker's club Brentford also released a short, sharp statement, which simply read: "We note the story concerning Ivan Toney and the FA investigation. The club will not be commenting."
FA rules state that players are "prohibited from betting, either directly or indirectly, on any football match or competition that takes place anywhere in the world" if they compete in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super League or Women's Championship.
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Furthermore, players are also not allowed to bet on off-field activities such as transfers or managerial changes, as well as using inside information to assist someone else with their gambling.
Kieran Trippier was notably banned for 10 weeks and fined £70,000 in 2020 after breaching FA betting rules over his move to Atletico Madrid, having passed information of the transfer to his friends.
Toney has caught the eye of Southgate after scoring eight goals and setting up two more in 13 Premier League games this term and earned his maiden call-up for September's Nations League games.
However, the 26-year-old did not make the squad for the Three Lions' defeat to Italy and was an unused substitute in a 3-3 draw with Germany, where England were already condemned to relegation to League B.
England will face Iran, Wales and the USA in Group B at the 2022 World Cup and will begin their quest for glory against the former on November 21.
Meanwhile, Brentford face Gillingham in the EFL Cup third round on Tuesday, where Toney will return from a yellow-card suspension, before travelling to Premier League champions Manchester City in their final game before the World Cup break.
Ben Knapton
