Nottingham Forest defender, Harry Toffolo, was on Wednesday, July 12, charged with breaching English FA betting rules 375 times. Harry Toffolo is alleged to have breached the FA betting rules 375 times between January 2014 and March 2017, the FA said. He was under contract at Norwich City at the time and subsequently had loan spells at Swindon, Rotherham, Peterborough, and Scunthorpe. 
Harry Toffolo thanking fans after a match. Source: Getty The footballer who made 19 Premier League appearances for Nottingham Forest last season after signing from Huddersfield, has until 19 July to respond to the charge. The FA said in a statement; “Nottingham Forest’s Harry Toffolo has been charged with misconduct in relation to our betting rules. Rule E8 prohibits players from betting on games, asking others to do so on their behalf or sharing privileged information for betting purposes.
Harry Toffolo at a warm up before a match against Chelsea last season. Source: Reuters Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier, then with Atlético Madrid, was found guilty in December 2020 of violating it and was banned from all football-related activity for 10 weeks, also being fined £70,000. Ivan Toney, the Brentford forward, was banned from football for eight months in May after he admitted 232 breaches of the FA’s Rule E1 (b) which prevents any footballer from making any type of bet on the game. Toney was charged with a total of 262 breaches but Toffolo’s misconduct appears to be far more serious. Brentford had been resigned to selling Toney this summer when he enters the last two years of his contract amidst interest from Manchester United and Newcastle after talks over a new deal broke down last autumn, but it is unlikely any club will meet their £50million valuation now given he will miss more than half the season.
The club which has been referred to an independent commission is said to have recorded losses of £371.8m ($388.3m) over the past three years. According to Premier League rules, clubs are allowed to lose a maximum of £105m ($128.3m) over that time. The Premier League executives were made aware of Everton’s situation following a joint letter written by Leeds chief executive, Angus Kinnear, and Burnley chairman, Alan Pace. At the time of their joint letter, both clubs were threatened with relegation and both also indicated their right to make legal claims against the Premier League and Everton. Confirming the charges, the Premier League said in a statement; “In accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today referred an alleged breach of the League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules by Everton Football Club to a Commission under Premier League Rule W.3.4. The assessment period for which it is alleged that the Club is in breach is the period ending Season 2021/22. 
“The proceedings before the Commission will, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League Rule W.82.2, the Commission’s final award will be published on the Premier League’s website. The League will be making no further comment until that time.” Reacting to the development, Everton said they are disappointed with the decision, adding that they are “prepared to robustly defend” their position to the commission. The club said in a statement; “Everton Football Club is disappointed to hear of the Premier League’s decision to refer an allegation of a breach of Profit & Sustainability regulations to an independent commission for review. “The club strongly contests the allegation of non-compliance and together with its independent team of experts is entirely confident that it remains compliant with all financial rules and regulations. Everton is prepared to robustly defend its position to the commission. The club has, over several years, provided information to the Premier League in an open and transparent manner and has consciously chosen to act with the utmost good faith at all times.”