Sports
How Gambling Almost Ruined My Life, Brentford Forward, Ivan Toney Opens Up
Brentford forward, Ivan Toney has opened up on his addiction to gambling and his eight-month ban from football.
Toney is banned until January 16, 2024, after admitting 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules.
In a tell-all interview with YouTube channel, Toney revealed that he no longer gambles.
The 27-year-old also admitted that he initially lied to investigators.
Toney, however, recalled that the scandal led to him being turned away by car insurers and restaurants.
He said, “I remember at the time when there were allegations, I wanted to go to a restaurant and they were like ‘no you can’t – we are not taking you.’
“I was like ‘what do you mean?’ And then it was ‘the allegations, we are not allowing you in’ or something like this. I was actually so confused. I was thinking “for starters, it is allegations and second of all you are a restaurant how can you not let someone in because of bad press?
“I was just baffled, and my car insurance, they would not insure me due to the whole scandal.”
Toney then admitted he started having a ‘little flutter’ in gambling when he was 15-years-old.
He continued: “The impact it (betting) would have is waiting for payday. I’d pay for everything I need to sort and then I would be like ‘I’ve got this much to play with’.
“I took care of what needed to be taken care of then in my head it is like “my money is my money and I can spend it how I want”.
Former Al-Ittihad star Mohammed Noor has slammed Karim Benzema over his move to Al-Hilal.
The Ballon d’Or winner quit Al-Ittihad after being left unhappy with their new contract offer.
An unimpressed Noor snapped: “Karim Benzema’s contract was set to expire on June 30, 2026, and he received two offers from Al-Ittihad to renew it, but he stalled.
“Benzema had already reached an agreement with Al-Hilal without the knowledge of the Al-Ittihad board. Then he came to pressure the club’s management, who had made him offers, but he didn’t respond because he had already agreed everything with the Al-Hilal board.
“He reached an agreement with Al-Hilal and had a bad exit from Al-Ittihad. Didn’t the fans who supported him and chanted his name for so long deserve a thank you before he left?
“He’s the loser, not Al-Ittihad.”
Manchester United Champions League winner Owen Hargreaves has praised manager Michael Carrick for fixing the balance of their midfield.
Hargreaves believes the rejigging from Carrick has brought out the best in Bruno Fernandes, who struck in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Tottenham.
Speaking on TNT Sports, he said: “Let’s be honest, 200 goal involvements is ridiculous. They’re Playstation numbers. He plays with risk but it’s risk that the team benefits from.
“Kobbie (Mainoo) in behind was fantastic again and Casemiro… those three were probably the three best players in the game, in my opinion.
“We said beforehand, under Ruben Amorim, that midfield was a weakness but that midfield three is really good.
“Obviously Bruno is the best player by a country mile and I just think they look so much stronger now as a midfield three.”
Man United are reportedly looking to sign AC Milan and USMNT star Christian Pulisic in the summer.
The 27-year-old has been a key player for AC Milan since joining from Chelsea back in 2023, scoring 43 goals and providing 22 assists in his 121 games.
According to Calcio Mercato via GiveMeSport, Pulisic’s fine form in Italy has caught the attention of Man United, who are keen on bringing him back to the Premier League.
It’s understood that AC Milan are reluctant to sell Pulisic, but a deal could be sanction for a fee of around £48 million.
Pulisic’s contract with the Serie A giants is set to expire in the summer of 2027 with talks over a new deal yet to progress.
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