Sandro Tonali: Italian FA agrees 10-month ban for Newcastle footballer
- Tonali punished for breaking Italian gambling regulations
- Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has vowed to stand by him
The Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali will be banned from football for 10 months for breaking Italian gambling regulations, the president of the Italian football federation (FIGC) has said. Gabriele Gravina said Tonali would also undergo an eight-month rehabilitation period as part of the agreement.
Tonali’s agent has said his client has a gambling addiction and that Tonali cooperated fully with an Italian investigation. Tonali admitted to placing bets on matches, including some in which he was involved for Milan. He signed for Newcastle from Milan for £55m in July.
Professional footballers in Italy are prohibited from betting on any competition organised by Fifa, Uefa or the FIGC. Doing so is punishable with a three-year ban, though this may be reduced with a guilty plea.
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“The FIGC prosecutor and Tonali have reached an agreement which I have already approved,” Gravina said. “The agreement consists of a 10-month ban plus eight months of rehab activities and at least 16 public appearances.”
Tonali’s lawyer was in Italy this week to negotiate a plea bargain for the 23-year-old, who has been promised his club’s full support. Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe, said last Friday: “We will throw our arms around Sandro and protect him and try to give him the love and support he needs to find solutions to the problems he’s had. We see him being part our team for many years. We are committed to him long term.”
The Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli was last week banned for seven months as part of a settlement with the FIGC after breaching rules surrounding betting on matches. His suspension was for 12 months but five of those were suspended and he was fined €12,500 (£10,843). He also agreed to a treatment programme for gambling problems.