EPL: Harry Toffolo gets 5-month suspended ban after breaching betting rules

Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo has been handed a suspended five-month ban for breaching English football’s betting rule.

The Nottingham Forest left-back who was charged by the Football Association in July over the 375 separate counts, was also handed a £20,000 fine after admitting to breaching betting rules.

The FA also stated the written reasons in the case would be published in due course. The FA said in a statement;

“Nottingham Forest’s Harry Toffolo has been given a five-month suspension, which has been suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season, and £20,956.22 fine for misconduct in relation to our betting rules.

“The defender admitted that he breached FA Rule E1(b) 375 times between 22 January 2014 and 18 March 2017, and an independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a hearing.

“The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these decision will be published in due course.”

During the time of the offences, Harry Toffolo was contracted to Norwich, where he came through the academy.

And in those three years, he was shipped out on loan to Swindon, Rotherham, Peterborough and Scunthorpe.

After departing Norwich, Toffolo joined Millwall and Lincoln, before linking up with Forest last season after a three-year stay at Huddersfield.

He featured in 19 Premier League games last term to help Steve Cooper’s side avoid relegation back into the Championship.

But he has failed to feature in the top-flight this term, with his only outing coming in the second round defeat against Burnley.

Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney was also suspended for eight months in May after 232 counts of breaching betting rules.

Toney’s ban extends to January 16, 2024, though he is allowed to return to training with Brentford starting next week. He was also fined $62,000.

An independent commission said Toney’s punishment could have been worse if he had not been diagnosed with a gambling addiction.