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Tag: Tonali

  • FA charges Tonali over alleged betting rules breaches

    FA charges Tonali over alleged betting rules breaches

    Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for alleged breaches of betting rules.

    The 23-year-old is currently serving a 10-month ban issued by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in October for breaking betting rules in Italy.

    Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July for £55m.

    The FA alleges Tonali broke its rules by placing 50 bets on matches between 12 August and 12 October 2023.

    Tonali was banned by the FIGC for betting on matches involving his teams Brescia and Milan, and Fifa later granted the Italian federation’s request to have the ban extended worldwide.

    The FA charges relate to separate allegations during Tonali’s time as a Newcastle player.

    “Newcastle United acknowledges a misconduct charge received by Sandro Tonali in respect of alleged breaches of FA Betting Rules,” the club said on Thursday.

    “Sandro continues to fully comply with relevant investigations and he retains the club’s full support.”

    His current ban means Tonali is not eligible to play again until August and will not feature at Euro 2024.

    The Italy international, who was fined 20,000 euros (£17,380), was initially given an 18-month ban which was reduced after he agreed to take part in an eight-month “therapeutic plan” to help “recovery from gambling addiction”.

    That will include Tonali making at least 16 public appearances in Italy, where he will be expected to speak to young players about the dangers of gambling.

    Although he is unable to play in any matches, Tonali can train alongside his Newcastle team-mates during his ban.

    Read Also: Tonali gets 10-months suspension over illegal betting

    Tonali, who has until 5 April to respond to the FA’s charges, had only made 12 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side before his suspension was imposed.

    Last year Brentford striker Ivan Toney was given an eight-month for 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules. He returned in January.

    Former England and Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson, who says he was a “compulsive gambler” during his career, called Tonali and Toney’s bans a “disgrace”.

    “To give people 10-month bans for an addiction that is ravaging football, with sponsorships all over the shirts… They needed help and I don’t think ‘help’ is giving them 10-month bans,” he said.

  • Tonali gets 10-months suspension over illegal betting

    Tonali gets 10-months suspension over illegal betting

    Newcastle star Sandro Tonali has been banned from football for 10 months for illegal betting, the Italian FA has announced.

    The midfielder will be ruled out for the rest of the season after reaching a plea bargain, with his lawyers having negotiated with prosecutors and the Italian football federation this week to finalise details of the ban.

    Italian FA chief Gabriele Gravina confirmed an agreement had been reached for a 10-month ban, including eight months of therapy, and praised Tonali’s collaboration in the process.

    “An agreement has already been reached between the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and Sandro Tonali, which occurred before the referral, therefore it must be endorsed by the undersigned, which I have already done,” Gravina told reporters.

    “A plea bargain is envisaged for 18 months of which 8 months is activity recovery, some concerns therapeutic activity and at least 16 face-to-face meetings as testimony.

    “A plea bargain is foreseen, mitigating circumstances are foreseen, the boys collaborated beyond belief, so we continue to respect the rules we have set for ourselves.”

    Read Also: Tinubu’s many sweet victories

    Tonali was interviewed last week at the Turin prosecutor’s office, where he reportedly spoke to investigators for around two and a half hours.

    Initial reports suggested Tonali was at risk of a 12-month ban after claims he had bet on AC Milan matches while on their books, before his £52million summer move to Newcastle.

    However, his admission of guilt and willingness to seek treatment for what his agent calls a ‘gambling addiction’ is believed to have helped him reduce the ban. It is also said he did not bet on Milan to lose matches.

    Tonali’s suspension is set to include eight months of therapy and his participation in anti-gambling initiatives.

    The midfielder is expected to be free to train with Newcastle during his suspension, which is set to run until late August of next year.

    He will miss Euro 2024 and the early weeks of the Premier League season.

    Tonali’s suspension had not arrived before Newcastle’s Champions League tie against Dortmund on Wednesday, which allowed the midfielder to be involved.

    It is thought UEFA did not want Tonali to feature but were powerless without confirmation of the ban from Italy.

  • JUST IN: Tonali banned for 10 months for breaching betting rules

    JUST IN: Tonali banned for 10 months for breaching betting rules

    Newcastle and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules.

    The 23-year-old will not be eligible to play again until August and will be unavailable to feature at Euro 2024 next summer should Italy qualify.

    Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July for £55m.

    Earlier this month, Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli received a seven-month ban from the FIGC for betting breaches.

    Fagioli had five months of a one-year ban suspended and was fined 12,500 euros (£10,850).

    He also agreed to a therapy plan of at least six months to tackle his gambling problem.

    Tonali and fellow midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, who is on loan at Aston Villa from Galatasaray, were forced to leave Italy’s training camp on 12 October after being told they were involved in an investigation by Italian prosecutors.

    During a three-year spell at San Siro, Tonali helped Milan win their first Serie A title for 11 years in 2021-22 and reach last season’s Champions League semi-finals.

    Read Also: UCL: Milan’s Tomori warns Newcastle star Sandro Tonali

    He came off the bench during Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.

    Tonali has made 12 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side since becoming the Magpies’ second most expensive signing.

    Newcastle, who are sixth in the Premier League, travel to Wolves on Saturday before facing Manchester United in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.