Harry Toffolo’s deteriorating mental health and belief that his football career was over were “very substantial mitigation” for him breaching Football Association betting rules, according to an independent regulatory commission.

Toffolo was given a suspended five-month ban after admitting 375 breaches of FA betting rules and was also fined just under £21,000. The Nottingham Forest full-back placed the bets between 2014 and 2017.

In written reasons published by the commission, it was stated Toffolo – who admitted the charge in full – placed 202 bets on matches in competitions in which his clubs were participating or had participated. There were also two spot bets placed by the player on events which involved himself as well as 15 identified to have been made ag…

Rob Edwards promised Luton would continue to fight for their Premier League lives after Luke Berry’s late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest at the end of a “challenging week”.

After watching his side throw away a three-goal half-time lead against Bournemouth in midweek to lose, the 41-year-old was facing a six-point gap to Forest opening up in his team’s bid to dodge relegation, following Chris Wood’s neat first-half finish.

Instead they rallied and hit back in the 89th minute though substitute Berry, pouncing to lash home from Reece Burke’s header, as Luton kept within three points of the visitors, who themselves were denied what would have been just a second league win of 2024.

“The way the game was going, really…

Ange Postecoglou appears set to leave Celtic and take over at Tottenham.

Spurs fans appear to be split on the selection with some questioning his pedigree, but that will not faze the single-minded 57-year-old.

So what do Tottenham supporters need to know about their prospective new boss?

– Who is Ange Postecoglou?

Iconic Ange.

— South Melbourne FC (@smfc)

The Australian, who emigrated from Greece at the age of four, won two titles as a South Melbourne player, where he worked under Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas, and won four Australia caps before injury forced him to move into coaching at a young age.

– What success has he achieved?Postecoglou led South Melbourne to two titles as manager in his early 30s and then spent se…

Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Spain to win against Czech Republic
Odds:

Spain lock horns with the Czech Republic at the Stadium Municipal for their opening Euro 2016 Group D clash this afternoon, and are hoping to begin their defence of the European Championships with a win.

Currently three points behind Group D leaders Croatia, who won their maiden game of the tournament against Turkey, but could finish the day level on points with the potential dark horses if they can dispatch of the Czech Republic this evening.

Spain are still somewhat recovering from their humiliating World Cup exit in 2014, and are determined to get off to a perfect start in their quest to win a third consecutive European Championships. Coming off the back of two wins from thei…

Market: Sport Recife win

Odds: 4/6 @

Looking to extend their buffer in the promotion chase in the early hours of Thursday, Sport Recife will welcome Operario to the Ilha do Retiro.

Starting with the hosts, while Sport Recife might have eventually fallen short during their top-four charge last season, the Lions have embarked on a real purple patch this time around. Last seen putting in a thumping performance as they stormed their way to a 3-1 romp away at Novorizontino, Pepa’s men will be looking for a repeat display when they return to the Ilha do Retiro. Getting October underway with a 2-1 win against Ceara, the former Cruzeiro boss finds the mood in his camp at a real high. Marking their return in the early hours of Thursday sat in the promotion spots, the m…

Brian Schmetzer urged Seattle Sounders to rediscover their home form ahead of Saturday s meeting with Chicago Fire in MLS.

The hosts sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, but are 12 points adrift of the top three sides in the table.

Schmetzer s side have not won back-to-back MLS games all season, though that is a possibility when the out-of-form Chicago visit Lumen Park.

Seattle will be invigorated by last-gasp drama in their 3-2 win over FC Dallas last time out, and the head coach hopes his team can utilise that momentum going forward.

We need to follow up that crazy, exciting, perfect for the fans, but horrible for the coaches win, he said. We ve got two more home games to come, and we need to re-establish some home form.

I haven t me…

Grace Clinton netted a debut goal as Manchester United got off to a winning start in the Women s Super League, cruising to a 3-0 victory over West Ham.

The new-look United side were in control throughout, and almost took an early lead as Leah Galton s cross was tipped onto the bar before Elisabeth Terland saw a header blocked on the line.

Geyse starred in the first half and soon got her reward after brushing aside Camile Saez at the byline to whip a shot in from a tight angle on the right of the box.

She almost got a second shortly after, meeting Maya Le Tissier s knockdown from a corner with an overhead kick that rattled the crossbar.

Galton doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time, cutting inside from the left before rifling a powerful effort …

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli is not expecting his team to feature at the business end of Euro 2012.

Injuries and form slumps will see several of Italy s best players missing from the provisional 30-man squad for this year s tournament when it is named on Sunday.

Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi succumbed to a knee injury while Milan s Antonio Cassano has only recently returned to the field following heart surgery.

Our potential has been decreased by 50 percent, but I m not worried and I ll have to improvise, he told Corriere della Sera.

Our desire to surprise has to be stronger than our difficulties. We shouldn t forget that you can find some nice surprises in the most difficult moments.

We have the time to prepare for our first game against …

His figures for Arsenal have been equally as impressive, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists as the Gunners finished second in the Premier League last season.

With two goals and an assist to his name just four games into the new campaign and the carrot of Euro 2024 next summer, Saka now wants to continue his progression as a key player for both Arsenal and England.

Asked if his target is to improve on his numbers this year, he replied: “Yes, 100 per-cent.

“I’m always looking to improve and progress each season. So, I’m definitely aiming for more this year.

2021-22 2022-23

— England (@England)

“I think it’s about commitment, you know, commitment to being better so obviously, it requires me to do a lot of thi…

Virgil van Dijk will play for the Netherlands at least until the 2026 World Cup after discussions with Ronald Koeman over his future.

The Liverpool defender, who has earned 74 caps since making his debut for the national team in October 2015, was awarded the captaincy by Koeman in 2018, during the manager s first spell in charge.

He has since led the team through three major tournaments, including two World Cups, with the Netherlands making it to the semi-finals at Euro 2024 before being knocked out by England.

And Koeman revealed he flew to Liverpool to have a face-to-face conversation with Van Dijk to persuade him to appear at the next major finals should they get there.

I thought it was so important to go to him to see and feel with him: are you going…