Ivan Toney is officially ‘free’ to play football again after his Premier League ban comes to an end.
Between August 2017 and March 2018, Ivan Toney bet on Newcastle United to lose 11 times while he was on loan at another club. He also placed two bets on Wigan Athletic to lose against Aston Villa while he was on loan at the Latics – but was not part of the match squad.
This led to the FA issuing the Brentford striker an eight-month ban from football, which officially ended on the 17th of January 2024 – meaning he is now eligible to play. Ivan Toney posted a one-word message on his socials today, which simply stated: ‘free’.
With this coming to an end, HITC Football looks back at the longest-ever bans in English football history.
5: Joey Barton – 13 months
Joey Barton, a man in the media a lot at the moment, faced a significant setback during his time at Manchester City as he received a 13-month ban in 2007.
The ban resulted from Barton’s aggressive behaviour on the pitch during City’s final match of the 2006-2007 Premier League season against Manchester United.
Barton, clashed with several players, notably engaging in a high-profile altercation with his own teammate – Ousmane Dabo.
The incident led to Barton being charged with violent conduct by the Football Association (FA). Following an investigation, the FA imposed a 13-month ban on Barton, although it was reduced to five months eventually.
4: Chris Buckley – 17 months
Aston Villa’s Bill Buckley is at number four – in a ban that not many may know about.
Buckley signed a new contract with Aston Villa in 1912, but after not receiving £250 that he believed was owed from the season prior, Buckley refused to play for the Villains at the start of the new season.
In response to this… Villa simply banned him for 17 months! That’s one way to deal with it.
3: Bradley Wood – Six years
A huge jump here – Bradley Wood was been banned from football for six years after committing 25 breaches of the Football Association’s integrity and betting rules.
An FA tribunal ruled that Wood ‘influenced a football betting market’ by picking up two yellow cards while playing for Lincoln during their 2016‑17 FA Cup run.
Wood denied the charges but was found guilty and was fined £3,725, ordered to pay costs of £1,550 and picked up a whopping six-year ban for his troubles. The 31-year-old will be able to return to football in March 2024 – not long now!
2: Enoch West – 30 years
Enoch West is said to have been involved in fixing a clash between Manchester United and Liverpool on 2nd April 1915 and was given a ‘lifetime ban’. Three of his United teammates and four Liverpool players were also given bans for life.
The other seven players had their bans lifted when they enlisted into the army for World War I, with West the only exception. Refusing to enlist, his ban stood for a full 30 years until 1945, when he turned 59.
- READ MORE: Why Enoch West was once banned for 30 years
1: Olafur Gottskalksson – Lifetime ban
The worst-ever ban in English football history is also probably the most comical.
Torquay United goalkeeper Olafur Gottskalksson was chosen to give a drug test back in January 2005 but didn’t want to take it due to an alleged cocaine addiction.
Torquay issued a statement saying he had gone missing, but the Icelandic international later revealed he had just gone to Amsterdam.
“It’s a real shame, I saw nothing else in the situation but to let myself go,” Gottskalksson later said. “I went to the Netherlands. Just took the next plane to Amsterdam and was there for a week, 10 days in total oblivion.
“I was advertised as missing in the papers here at home and didn’t realize what I was doing to the people here at home. You only listen to your own bulls**t.”
Four months down the line, the FA announced they had banned Gottskalksson from football indefinitely for failing to take that drugs test. He hasn’t played football since.
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