Toney left out by England for World Cup on 'soccer grounds', FA chief insists

The Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has said Ivan Toney was not chosen for England's World Cup squad on "soccer grounds".

Brentford striker Toney was charged on Wednesday with 232 alleged breaches of FA betting rules over a period of nearly four years.

The 26-year-old has until next Thursday to respond after previously saying he was cooperating with an investigation into any alleged infringement.

Toney, before the revelation of the ongoing investigation was announced, missed out on Gareth Southgate's 26-man squad for Qatar, although Bullingham insisted the decision was for reasons over the ground.

"He was absolutely available for selection," Bullingham told the BBC. "He was not chosen on football pitches."

Newcastle United's Callum Wilson has been given the nod ahead of Toney, joining Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford as Southgate's striking options.

Toney is not the first England player to be charged for such alleged breaches, with Kieran Trippier - a member of the England squad - being punished in December 2020.

Right-back Trippier, now from Newcastle, has been handed a 10-week ban by the FA after giving tips for others to bet on his transfer from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid.

"I think our rules are very clear and we have had a small number of cases," Bullingham replied when asked if there was a problem in English football.

"Obviously we will seek to enforce the rules when they are broken."

England begin their World Cup campaign against Iran on Monday, before facing the United States and Wales in Group B.