Italy's most expensive player could be banned for 12 months for betting

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is at risk of being banned for a long time for placing multiple bets on Milan while he was playing for the club.

According to the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport , Tonali has confessed to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) that he bet on Milan when he was still playing for the club. According to the sports disciplinary code, Tonali could be banned for three years. But because he only bet on Milan to win and on games he did not play, it is not considered match-fixing, and the punishment could be reduced.

Sandro Tonali in a match for Newcastle in the 2023-2024 Premier League. Photo: Reuters — Sandro Tonali in a match for Newcastle in the 2023-2024 Premier League. Photo: *Reuters*

However, Italian law prohibits athletes from betting on the sport they compete in. Tonali is also believed to be addicted to gambling, so he is still at risk of a lengthy suspension. The 23-year-old midfielder is expected to be punished more severely than Nicolo Fagioli, who was suspended for seven months for gambling, even though he did not bet on his home team.

Tonali, Fagioli and Nicolo Zaniolo are all under investigation by the FIGC for betting offences, and are expected to receive lengthy bans. The three Italian midfielders will undergo drug rehabilitation and meet with younger players to warn them about the consequences of football betting.

Tonali played for Milan from 2020 to 2023 and became an important player to help the team win Serie A in 2022. This summer, Newcastle spent 75 million USD to bring him to St James Park, making Tonali the most expensive Italian player of all time. He scored one goal in 10 matches for the "Magpies", but has not really created a big impact like when he was at Milan.

Also on October 18, Newcastle announced that Tonali was being investigated by the FIGC for illegal betting, and that he was fully cooperating with the authorities. Currently, the 23-year-old midfielder is still eligible to play in the next match against Crystal Palace on Saturday, October 21, if selected by coach Eddie Howe.

Hoang An

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