Sandro Tonali is cooperating with an investigation into his gambling history. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Sandro Tonali at center of betting probe

Italian and Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is expected to appear before Italian officials as he awaits punishment for breaching betting rules.

Tonali will do the same to try to lighten his punishment

Tonali, 23, was implicated alongside fellow soccer players Nicolo Zaniolo (Aston Villa) and Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus) in an investigation into betting behaviors. Fagioli already met with prosecutor Giuseppe Chine, and now Tonali will do the same to try to lighten his punishment.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Magpies’ summer signing will still face at least 18 months out of Italian football and his national side. The Football Association (FA) operates under different rules and has no minimum standard.

Coming clean

Tonali entered the spotlight of the investigation last week. He was questioned by Italian police at his country’s training facility while reporting for international duty and was told to go back to Newcastle afterward.

Courier della Sera reported that Tonali became emotional while speaking with investigators and confessed to his mistake.

Other reports indicate that the talented midfielder is ashamed that the investigation has become public and is also looking to treat a gambling addiction with the help of a therapist.

allowed to participate in regular activities until a formal punishment is announced

Tonali is not expected to face any disciplinary actions from Newcastle and is still training with the team. He will be allowed to participate in regular activities until a formal punishment is announced.

According to Gazzetta, Fagioli also self-reported and self-denounced in front of authorities. A potential five-year ban is unfit for his crimes since he did not bet on games involving his parent club, Juventus. 

It is not known if Tonali bet on matches involving AC Milan, for which he played from 2020-2023 before he was sold to Newcastle for €70m ($73.8m) in July.

Fagioli’s upcoming ban is expected to be three years lessened to 18 months because he cooperated with investigators. He also revealed that he was recommended a betting app for unregulated blackjack betting by Tonali.

What’s in store?

Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney was suspended for eight months in May for 262 breaches of the FA’s gambling rules. However, Brentford is still paying his £21,000-per-week ($25,643) salary. 

Tonali is not currently expected to lose out on his pay.

Retired striker and soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played with Tonali at Milan from 2020-23, said that his ex-teammate needs help since gambling is “like a drug.”

In the first year he was too much of a fan.”

“When he landed at Milan, Tonali had arrived from Brescia (his former team) and had just realized his dream,” said Ibrahimovic. “In the first year he was too much of a fan. I told him that this wasn’t good.”  

“I, too, have played at the casino before, because everyone is free to do what they want with their own money, but you have to understand the situation.”

The soccer legend spoke highly of Tonali as a person and said that he was unaware of the situation, but also encouraged the public not to rush to any conclusions before all of the details were revealed.

The manager of Italy’s national squad, Luciano Spalletti, shared similar thoughts during an international break presser.

“It is right that we look to defend them and help them but then justice will take its course,” said Spalletti. “We need to talk about the risk of falling into these temptations. We need to speak to these young people about the fact there are these pitfalls.”