Nottingham Forest's Harry Toffolo Receives Suspended Ban for Betting Rule Breaches

The Football Association has revealed that Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo has been given a suspended five-month ban after admitting 375 breaches of betting rules.

Toffolo is suspended for five months and has also been fined £20,956 for breaking the rule that does not allow players to bet or give out any information about his team to anyone. He gave out information about his team to someone during the 2014 to 2017 season when he played for Norwich City, Swindon, Rotherham, Peterborough, and Scunthorpe.

Toffolo breached FA rules, which ban players from placing bets or passing on information that could be used for betting 375 times between 22 January 2014 and 18 March 2017.

The FA says the written reasons for the decisions “will be published in due course.” Toffolo made 21 appearances for Forest last season following his move from Huddersfield – and has featured once this season as a substitute in their Carabao Cup loss to Burnley.

Toffolo is not the only player who has been banned for breaching the FA’s betting rules. In May, Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney was banned for eight months after admitting to 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules.

Toney was recently banned for his gambling action and breaking the FA rules. He bet against his own team during the period of the time, and from May 17th to January 16, 2024, he was suspended from even training in the club or playing any matches in any league.

The FA’s betting rules are designed to protect the integrity of the game and prevent match-fixing and corruption. According to the FA website, the rules state that “an individual participant, when acting in a personal capacity, shall not be permitted to bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on – (i) the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition; or (ii) any other matter concerning or related to football anywhere in the world.”

Players who violate these rules face serious consequences, as Toffolo and Toney have learned the hard way.