Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for allegedly breaching its betting rules.
It is claimed that Toffolo, who was signed to Norwich City at the time, violated FA regulations by placing bets or sharing information that could be used for betting purposes on 375 occasions between January 22, 2014, and March 18, 2017.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: The FA have charged Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo with 375 betting offences between 2014 and 2017.
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) July 12, 2023
(Source: FA) pic.twitter.com/UC5kS7ejOu
Toffolo, who had loan spells at Swindon, Rotherham, Peterborough, and Scunthorpe during that period, now has until July 19 to respond to the charges.
This incident follows a similar case involving Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney, who received an eight-month ban in May after admitting to 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules.
Toney, initially charged in November 2022, missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup.
However, his ban was later reduced from 11 months to eight due to a diagnosed gambling addiction. As a result, Toney will not be eligible to play again until January 17, 2024.
Harry Toffolo, aged 27, joined Nottingham Forest from Huddersfield Town last summer in a deal worth approximately £10 million.
His transfer to Forest also included Terriers midfielder Lewis O’Brien. During the 2022-23 season, Toffolo made 19 Premier League appearances for the newly-promoted side.
With the new campaign approaching, Nottingham Forest is set to kick off against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on August 12 at 12:30 BST.
However, Toffolo’s involvement in the upcoming season is uncertain pending the resolution of the FA charges.
The FA takes matters of betting breaches seriously to maintain the integrity and fairness of the sport. Betting regulations exist to prevent any potential manipulation of matches or exploitation of inside information by players or other individuals involved in football.
By imposing sanctions and disciplinary actions, the FA aims to send a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated.
As the investigation into Harry Toffolo’s alleged breaches continues, both the player and the club will have an opportunity to present their case and provide any evidence or mitigating circumstances.
The outcome of the FA’s disciplinary proceedings will determine the potential sanctions Toffolo might face, which could range from fines to suspensions or even a ban from the sport.
