20 January 2024 , 21:12
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Ivan Toney has explained the rule-bending tactic which allowed him to mark his return to football after an eight-month ban in style.
Having been suspended since April 2023 after being charged with 262 breaches of the FA's rules on gambling in football, the Brentford striker took just 19 minutes to score in his first game back. Toney's first-half free-kick drew the Bees level in their epic 3-2 win at home to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The 27-year-old's moment came when Brentford were awarded a free-kick from just over 20 yards out, and Toney was spotted sneakily moving the ball further to the right in order to get a clearer sight of goal. The England Euro 2024 hopeful, criticised by some fans for his behaviour, was arguably vindicated when his effort flew past Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Speaking after the game, Toney revealed to Sky Sports : "I practice free-kicks in training. Everyone batters me because most of them end up in the car park, but when it matters I deliver so it's all good. I think you have a yard either way (to move the ball) so I just moved the ball and bent it around the corner."
Neal Maupay's 68th-minute winner gave the ex- Newcastle forward a perfect return, as Toney added: "It was a long time coming. I manifested this win when I was at home during the time I was out, I am here now and buzzing to be back scoring goals and winning with the team.
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"I 100 per cent knew this would happen again. I manifest things like this. Before the game, before I left my house, I thought, 'We're winning today and I'm scoring.' And I made it happen, which is good. I'm grateful to be back playing with the lads, I've missed it so much. The fans, everyone... Yeah I'm back, I'm back."
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo wasn't so pleased, though. "It is ball displacement so VAR should intervene," the Portuguese told BBC Match of the Day. "Every action that leads to a goal VAR checks, and that situation led to a goal. Clear? Do you agree with me?"
Your turn! Should Ivan Toney have been punished? Join the debate in the comments section.
Ivan Toney moved his free-kick from its original position to equalise for Brentford (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)Nuno added to Sky Sports : The law says that every goal must be checked but they cannot check ball displacement so it's an issue, it's another situation that we have to look at but we are in the worst end of it and it's an important moment because we knew that Brentford were going to react, it was important to keep that situation controlled but the boys did well. It's always tough to take these kind of decisions, like the third goal, they were arguing about the situation, possible handball but the boys work hard."