Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been hit with an eight-month ban after admitting breaches of betting rules.

Toney was charged by the Football Association last November for 262 alleged breaches over a four-year period.

The 27-year-old – who made his long-awaited England debut in March – admitted to 232 of the counts, with 30 having been subsequently withdrawn.

Following a personal hearing an independent regulatory commission imposed Toney’s sanctions, which included a £50,000 fine.

He will not be able to play until January 17, 2024, but can train with Brentford from September 17.

“Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January …

Joshua Kimmich has mixed feelings about playing a World Cup in Qatar but insisted players cannot be expected to boycott the finals at this late stage.

The Germany and Bayern Munich player says the time for action was 12 years ago, when Qatar was awarded the tournament, rather than now, two months out from the opening game.

Kimmich spoke at a Germany press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Nations League games against Hungary and England, the last get-together of Hansi Flick s squad before the coach chooses his players for the World Cup.

The November and December dates for the tournament are unusual, and all part of the package that has come since Qatar was surprisingly awarded hosting rights in December 2010.

Concern about the country s human rights record…

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Looking to pick up some pre-Euro 24 momentum on Wednesday night, Belgium will welcome Montenegro to Brussels for a friendly showdown.

Belgium

Starting with the hosts, suffering an infamous World Cup nightmare in the winter of 2022 as they failed to progress out of the group stage, Belgium found themselves at the heart of a public crisis. However, turning to Domenico Tedesco last year in an attempt to steady the ship, the Red Devils are clearly enjoying life under the former RB Leipzig boss. Storming their way to this summer’s European Championships and unbeaten in all of their eight Group F appearances, Wednesday’s hosts find the mood in their camp at a recent high. Last seen during March’s international break putting in another…

Stefano Pioli is set to unleash Rafael Leao on Inter in Saturday s Milan derby after keeping suitors at bay before the transfer window closed.

The exciting Portuguese forward was thought to be a target for Chelsea but remains with Milan and is poised to make his 100th Serie A appearance against the Nerazzurri.

Up to this point, Leao has started in 69 of his 99 league games, and among players born from 1999 onwards he has provided the most assists (16) in the competition.

In terms of goals scored among that age group, the 23-year-old stands third on the list with 24, behind only Dusan Vlahovic (55) and Andrea Pinamonti (25).

Pioli never believed he would lose Leao before the shutters went up on the market on Thursday, but the finality will have come as a …

Pep Guardiola says there is a greater chance of him leaving Manchester City than staying, despite the Spaniard wanting to continue in charge after Sunday s Premier League title triumph.

City manager Guardiola offered a cryptic description over his future after his side lifted their fourth successive top-flight trophy following the 3-1 victory over West Ham at Etihad Stadium.

That success marked Guardiola s sixth Premier League title, with only Alex Ferguson (13) managing more in the competition s history, though speculation persists over his future.

When pressed on his plans by Sky Sports after the title celebrations, Guardiola said: The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying.

We have talked with the club – my feeling is that I want to stay now…

Granit Xhaka found himself at the centre of another controversy involving Serbia after donning a shirt with Jashari on the back following Switzerland’s 3-2 win in Doha on Friday.

Xhaka produced a man of the match display as the Swiss hit back from 2-1 down to secure second place in Group G and advance to a last-16 clash with Portugal on Tuesday.

But his actions after the final whistle could attract the attention of FIFA.

In the post-match celebrations, Xhaka put on a shirt carrying the name Jashari . Asked afterwards what it meant, the Arsenal midfielder claimed it was for Switzerland squad member Ardon Jashari.

However, the name carries significance in other ways with Adem Jashari a late founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army, a Kosovo Albanian separati…

Harry Kane is trying not to think about becoming Tottenham s record all-time goalscorer after he moved one shy of Jimmy Greaves haul with an FA Cup winner against Portsmouth.

The England captain put Spurs into the fourth round with a clinical finish early in the second half of the tie at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Kane s next goal will put him level with the legendary Greaves on 266 for the London club, a feat he could achieve against fierce rivals Arsenal next Sunday.

The prolific striker, who has scored four times in as many games since the World Cup and 17 this season, is determined not to let the prospect of making history play on his mind.

I try to not think about it, he told BBC Sport.

Sometimes you can think too much. Obviousl…

Belgium became the first team to secure qualification for Euro 2020 with a huge 9-0 win at home to minnows San Marino.

Romelu Lukaku s 50th international goal broke the deadlock in Brussels on Thursday, and the striker set up Nacer Chadli for the second before Cristian Brolli s own goal made it 3-0.

Lukaku struck again, Andrea Grandoni deflected in Toby Alderweireld s shot and Youri Tielemans scored ahead of the interval, after which Roberto Martinez s side took their foot off the gas.

Christian Benteke, Yari Verschaeren and Timothy Castagne wrapped up the scoring and, with seven wins out of seven in Group I, Belgium are guaranteed to finish in the top two and can look forward to the European Championship.

Despite dominating, it took Belgium until the 28…

Harvey Elliott insists he is ready to take his game to the next level as he eyes Euro 2024.

The Liverpool midfielder captained England Under-21s for the first time on Monday, leading the Young Lions as they slipped to a late 3-2 defeat to Ukraine in Slovakia.

He returns to domestic action this weekend, looking to force his way into the Liverpool line-up for Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton.

Despite a frustrating lack of starts for the Reds this term, Euro 2024 remains a real goal for Elliott, after England’s 3-1 win over Italy on Tuesday booked their place in Germany, and he is primed to take his chance.

He said: “Absolutely, I’ve felt ready for a while now. It’s just about making sure I keep applying myself to be the best possible playe…

It is fair to say La Masia is one of the more famous football production lines.

Barcelona have built legendary teams using many of the graduates to have come through their academy.

While the club may have gone for more of a transfer-based approach in recent years, there remains a romance about the idea of La Masia churning out more stars of the future.

With the announcement on Wednesday that the latest product, Gavi, has signed a new deal until 2026 after becoming a vital cog in Xavi s first team despite only turning 18 in August, Stats Perform has taken a look at other teen sensations who broke through over the years; those who flourished, and those who did not.

From promise to stardom

Lionel Messi

Let s start with the most obvious one. …