Sandro Tonali, the 23-year-old midfielder and a £55 million summer signing from AC Milan, will face a 10-month ban from football due to violations of betting rules in Italy.
Gatekeepers News reports that the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced this decision on Thursday.
This ban will result in his absence for the remainder of Newcastle’s season and could impact his participation in Italy’s Euro 2024 finals if they qualify.
While he won’t be eligible for competitive matches until August 2024, Tonali is allowed to train with Newcastle and participate in friendly matches.
As part of his agreement with Italian authorities, he is also required to attend treatment sessions for gambling addiction and deliver a series of talks about his experience over an additional eight-month period.
This suspension is a result of an investigation by Turin prosecutors into soccer players using illegal websites to place bets on games. Tonali’s cooperation in the investigation played a crucial role in the outcome. Without his collaboration, he could have faced a potential three-year suspension under FIFA rules.
FIGC President, Gabriele Gravina explained that Tonali was suspended for 18 months but that eight of those months were commutable by attending treatment for gambling addiction and making at least 16 public appearances at centres for young soccer players and associations for recovering addicts.
“We can’t just think about punishing the boys and not helping them recover,” Gravina added. “I think it’s worth a lot more, rather than a month ban, eight months of giving talks about what they went through, in an honest way and with the right behaviour.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe expressed the club’s commitment to Tonali, and his absence will present challenges for the team. Despite the ban, Tonali’s talent is acknowledged, and there is hope for his career to rebound during this period.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson described Tonali’s 10-month ban as a “tragedy” and expressed concern about the length of the suspension. Nevertheless, it is a significant development with potential consequences for Tonali and both his club and country.
