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When a player gets involved in match-fixing, their career is often halfway ruined, especially if they bet on matches they participate in. However, there's one player who, despite betting on his own matches, received a relatively lenient 8-month suspension and, upon return, immediately showcased his exceptional free-kick skills to help the team break a losing streak. Who is this player?
The player in question is Ivan Toney, the forward for Premier League's Brentford. Ivan Toney faced an 8-month suspension due to a gambling scandal, only recently making a comeback to the field. Typically, players involved in match-fixing receive bans lasting a year or even two, with severe cases preventing players from participating in team training. This aims to render the player obsolete by denying them matches and training for two years, effectively burying their professional career. Thus, Ivan Toney's 8-month suspension is indeed a unique case.
The reason for his relatively light punishment is the peculiar nature of Ivan Toney's betting habits. He had a penchant for betting on his own team but only in matches he was set to play. Conversely, in matches where he wouldn't participate, he bet against his team, almost suggesting that Brentford could only win with him and not without. This quirky betting style, which was a mix of humor and irony, ultimately saved his career. Although he was eventually diagnosed with gambling addiction, the absence of suspicion related to match-fixing helped mitigate his punishment.
During the months of his suspension, Ivan Toney didn't idle away his time. Before the suspension, he was a prolific striker, scoring 20 goals in a season. Concerns arose about whether he could maintain this form upon his return. However, he responded to those doubts with a stellar performance. In his first Premier League match after the ban, he scored a beautiful goal, helping Brentford end a five-match losing streak and proving that he still possesses the ability. Considering Ivan Toney's previous aspirations to play for a top club, many elite teams may reignite their interest, and he might leave Brentford for a bigger stage in the upcoming season. |
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