AP & fbarena.com
Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United has been suspended for a period of 10 months by the Italian soccer federation due to his involvement in betting on matches involving teams he was a part of. This suspension means that he will not be able to participate in the remainder of the Premier League season and is ruled out for competing with the Italian national team at the upcoming European Championship in 2024.
The 23-year-old Tonali, who is the second player to face suspension in this ongoing case, agreed to a plea bargain with the federation. This arrangement includes a requirement for Tonali to undergo therapy for a gambling addiction.
Tonali's agent, Giuseppe Riso, has recently acknowledged that his client struggles with a gambling problem. Tonali revealed to prosecutors that he had placed bets on matches involving AC Milan and Brescia when he was playing for these clubs.
The Italian soccer federation's decision to suspend Tonali comes after an investigation by Turin prosecutors revealed the involvement of soccer players in illegal betting activities on various games.
The ban imposed on Tonali also implies that he will miss Euro 2024, scheduled to run from June 14 to July 14. It's worth noting that Italy, the defending champion, has yet to qualify for the tournament.
Sandro Tonali's cooperation with the authorities has led to a significant reduction in his ban, lowering it from the standard three-year minimum for players involved in betting on soccer matches.
Gabriele Gravina, the President of FIGC, the Italian Football Federation, disclosed that Tonali's suspension is for 18 months. However, eight of those months can be commuted by actively participating in treatment for gambling addiction and by making at least 16 public appearances at centers for young soccer players and associations focused on aiding those recovering from addiction.
Gravina emphasized the importance of not solely punishing the players but also helping them recover and rebuild their lives. He believes that providing talks about their experiences, conducted in an honest manner with the right behavior, holds more value than a simple one-month suspension.
In a similar case, Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli received a seven-month ban after agreeing to a plea bargain with the federation, which also mandates therapy for a gambling addiction.
Unlike Fagioli, Tonali admitted to placing bets on Milan games during his time with AC Milan, but it's essential to note that his bets were always for Milan to win, with no implication of match-fixing.
Gravina emphasized that these were straightforward bets with no influence on the match outcomes.
Sandro Tonali, who joined Newcastle from Milan in a significant transfer during the offseason, has signed a five-year contract with the English club.
Despite the gambling case, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe recently expressed the club's long-term commitment to Tonali.
Tonali made one of his last appearances for the season as a substitute in the 65th minute during Wednesday's Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. However, it's important to mention that the ban must still be extended internationally by UEFA.
Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo of Aston Villa were sent back to their respective clubs this month after police notified them of their involvement in the Turin probe during Italy's national team training camp. Zaniolo has stated that he did not place bets on games.
Tonali and Fagioli are among several top-level soccer players who have faced bans for violating gambling rules. Previously, Brentford striker Ivan Toney received an eight-month suspension from the English Football Association in May, admitting to 232 charges of breaching betting rules. In 2017, former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton was banned for 18 months after confessing to placing 1,260 soccer-related bets over a period exceeding 10 years. This ban was later reduced by nearly five months on appeal.
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