Arrivederci Tonali: Newcastle United Midfielder Banned For Betting Breaches
Newly-relevant Newcastle United, revived by the sticky billions of Saudi oil money and the coaching acumen of Manager Eddie Howe, has been dealt a hefty blow in the midfield power train by the suspension of their Italy international Sandro Tonali for illegal gambling.
Box-to-box midfielder Tonali was bought from AC Milan by the Geordie giants for £52 million (€59.8m/US$63m) in the summer recess.
But he’s now been given a 10-month suspension by national and international footballing authorities after being snared in a long-running Italian police investigation into illegal betting by players in the country’s leading Serie A football league, that has also netted fellow midfielder Nicolò Fagioli of top team Juventus.
Tonali’s ban will mean that he will also miss Euro 2024, should Italy–current European champions, but beaten 3-1 by England at Wembley on October 17–qualify for the competition.
However, in a modicum of recompense, 23-year-old Tonali will be allowed to train with The Magpies throughout his suspension.
Tonali and Fagioli, who for his part was banned from playing for seven months and fined the equivalent of £10,850 (€12,500) for breaching betting rules, were found guilty of betting on Serie A matches and using illegal off-shore gambling sites in Italy.
Tonali, who came off the bench for the final quarter of Newcastle’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park on Wednesday night (October 25), in a vain bid to overturn a 0-1 deficit, will be offered gambling addiction therapy, his agent Giuseppe Riso confirmed to iGamingFuture.
Gambling Addiction Therapy
“[Sandro] is fighting against a gambling addiction and he is shocked, shaken and saddened by his situation,” said Riso.
Fagiolo, aged 22, will also undergo therapy for his gambling problem, reliable sources have reported.
Meantime, Aston Villa’s Italy midfielder Nicolò Zaniolo, currently on loan at Turkish side Galatasaray, has also been removed from the national squad of the European champions.
Newcastle United, to date, are staying tight-lipped on the betting scandal that has blemished their recent impressive run of form.
“[We] can confirm that Sandro Tonali is subject to investigation by the Italian prosecutor’s office and Italian Football Federation in relation to illegal betting activity,” Wor Lads said in a statement last week.
“Sandro is fully engaging with the investigation and will continue to co-operate with all relevant authorities. He and his family will continue to receive the club’s full support.
“Due to this ongoing process, Sandro and Newcastle United are unable to offer further comment at this time.”
Newcastle Manager Howe also said it was too premature to discuss the midfield replacement options for Tonali.
