Sandro Tonali To Agree 10-month Ban From Football

Sandro Tonali, a midfield player for Newcastle United, will miss the next ten months as Italian authorities prepare to validate his ban for engaging in unlawful gambling.

An agreement is almost reached between the football federation, the player’s attorneys, and the prosecutors.

In addition, Tonali will engage in eight months of therapy and take part in anti-gambling campaigns as part of his suspension.

The 23-year-old Italian midfielder’s agent recently asserted that the player is a gambling addict, after the player acknowledged placing bets on his own teams to win games.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Newcastle will suspend Tonali’s €8 million (£7 million) salary; however, the team has not yet confirmed this to Mail Sport.

The shocking news was revealed, less than four months after he paid £52 million to transfer from AC Milan to the Premier League club,

For the duration of his suspension, which is scheduled to last until late August of next year, Tonali will be allowed to train with the team. He will be absent from both the opening weeks of the Premier League season and Euro 2024.

Nicolo Zaniolo of Aston Villa, Nicolo Fagioli of Juventus, and Tonali of Newcastle United were all named in a Turin prosecutors’ investigation that sent shockwaves through the Italian football community.

Juventus midfielder Fagioli was also given a seven-month suspension last week, but he will still be able to practice with the first team and receive his full salary from the club.

The 22-year-old, who cooperated with authorities and acknowledged his guilt, was able to obtain a substantial reduction in the standard minimum punishment of a three-year ban for similar offenses.

Zaniolo is aiding the investigation, Aston Villa has confirmed, and he recently met with senior club officials. On Sunday, he made his Villa debut in midfield against West Ham.

In an attempt to mitigate any potential ban, Tonali also acknowledged his guilt and expressed a willingness to seek treatment for what his agent called a “gambling addiction.”

Sandro Tonali has only made 11 appearances since joining Newcastle in the summer after leaving Milan.