NEWCASTLE have released a statement regarding Sandro Tonali’s potential ban for breaching betting regulations.
The statement reads: “Newcastle United can confirm that Sandro Tonali is subject to investigation by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in relation to illegal betting activity.
GettyTonali is subject to investigation by the Italian FA[/caption]
“Sandro is fully engaging with the investigation and will continue to cooperate 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.”
Tonali is subject to a wider investigation into several high-profile Serie A players allegedly breaching betting rules.
Both Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo were sent home from the Italy squad after being questioned by Italian police ahead of their games against Malta and England.
Tonali and Zaniolo are at the centre of the investigation alongside Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli.
Fagioli has already been handed a ban from football for seven months by the Italian Football Federation.
The Juventus man has received a “12-month disqualification,” five of which “will be commuted to alternative prescriptions.”
The midfielder has been fined nearly £11,000 and must “participate in a therapeutic plan lasting at least six months and in a cycle of at least 10 public meetings, to be held within five months.”
Should Tonali be found guilty of breaching Italian regulations, he could face a ban of up to three years.
Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso confirmed that his client, Tonali, is a gambling addict and hopes that the scandal could be the wake up call to “save his life”.
Speaking outside the Italian embassy in London, Riso said: “Sandro suffers a gambling addiction. He’s fighting to avoid that and I’m sure he will win this difficult game.
“He is in shock, he is shaken and sad. I hope that this experience saves his life and that of many others, that it helps those who fall into the same habit as him.”
He added that Tonali remains available to play for Newcastle and said: “Sandro is training, and on Saturday he could also play.
“He understood that he has to face this problem in a determined way. The club is absolutely at the moment on his side.”
That was after La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that the midfielder is ready to “collaborate” with FIGC and Turin Prosecutors in the investigation.
They claim that he will reveal all he knows about the betting scandal and which events he gambled on.
That was the approach which Fagioli took, allowing him to be hit with a ban that is ultimately seven months rather than the maximum of 12.
But widespread reports in Italy suggest that Tonali has admitted to betting on AC Milan games, the club he left this summer to join Newcastle, and as such could face a more severe punishment.
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