Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned from football for ten months.
The 23-year-old Italy international is banned from all football activities after being found guilty of breaching gambling rules by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Tonali, who moved from AC Milan to Newcastle in July for 70 million euros, is now not allowed to take part in games for Newcastle or his national team during this period.
The ban also includes a further eight months of rehabilitation including therapy as well as 16 public appearances in Italy at amateur clubs, federal training centers and addiction support organizations.
He was also fined 20,000 euros.
Gambling is not a crime in Italy as long as bets are placed on platforms recognized by customs and monopoly authorities. The use of illegal platforms is punishable by a prison sentence of three months or a fine of between 51,000 and 516,000 euros.
However, Article 24 of the FIGC Code of Sports Law prohibits placing or accepting bets, directly or indirectly, on events organized by the FIGC, FIFA and UEFA. Anyone who does this risks a three-year ban and a fine of at least 25,000 euros.
Tonali’s legal team confirmed last week that he had met with prosecutors and that they were seeking a quick resolution to the case, with the FIGC confirming the sanctions on Thursday.
Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli and Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo were also investigated in the same case. Fagioli received a seven-month football ban last week after reaching an agreement with the FIGC.
Zaniolo was questioned alongside Tonali at Italy’s Coverciano training camp during the international break but claimed he had not used the platforms for sports betting.
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Tonali’s agent told an event in London last Tuesday that his client had suffered from a “gambling disease.”
“Sandro is a bit shaken by the situation,” Tonali’s agent Beppe Riso said last Tuesday. “But he has already started to fight back. Sandro is a fighter.
“The greatest game has begun against an illness. Sandro is used to big games and he usually wins them. Sandro’s experience will save the lives of other children.
“I would like to thank Newcastle. They were always by Sandro’s side. He is training and could play on Saturday. He realized that he had to face this problem. The club is absolutely by his side.”
Head coach Eddie Howe reiterated Newcastle’s long-term commitment to Tonali last week, saying after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, in which the Italian came on as a second-half substitute, that it was his idea for the midfielder to play a role in the second half at St James’ Park at the end of the game.
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(Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)