Newcastle United and Italy Midfielder Sandro Tonali Faces 10-Month Ban for Breaching Betting Rules

Newcastle United and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has received a 10-month ban for breaking betting regulations, announced Gabriele Gravina, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), on Thursday. Gravina confirmed that an agreement had been reached between the Federal Prosecutors Office and Tonali prior to the case being referred, which he has already approved. This statement was captured by various Italian media outlets, including CNN affiliate Sky24.

Tonali, who transferred to Newcastle from AC Milan in July, will not be eligible to play for his club or country until August of next year. This means that he would be unable to participate in the 2024 Euros for Italy's men's national team if they qualify. Tonalis agents traveled to Italy to negotiate a plea agreement on his behalf. No public statements have been made by Tonali regarding the case.

CNN has contacted Tonalis legal representatives and agency for their response.

Prior to Newcastles Premier League match versus Crystal Palace on the previous Saturday, the manager of the club, Eddie Howe, informed the BBC that Tonali had displayed remarkable composure and resilience in managing his emotions.

Gravina states that the plea agreement made between the representatives of the players and the federal prosecutor guarantees a lesser penalty for the midfielder.

Under Article 24 of the FIGCs sporting justice code, players are prohibited from placing or accepting bets on events arranged by the FIGC, FIFA, and UEFA. Any violation of this article may result in a three-year suspension, which can be mitigated by admitting guilt.

The 23-year-old will receive therapy for his gambling problems, which his lawyers claim are linked to a gambling addiction, as reported by Reuters. Additionally, he will fulfill 16 speaking engagements as a part of his community service.

Tonali joined Newcastle in the summer for a record-breaking fee of $74 million, making him the most expensive Italian player.

Tonali's tenure at AC Milan proved instrumental in securing the club's first Serie A title in 11 years during the 2021/22 season, as well as propelling them to the semifinals of the previous season's Champions League.

In Wednesday's Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, Tonali entered the field as a substitute in the second half for Newcastle, ultimately resulting in their defeat.

Just weeks after being handed a seven-month ban and a fine of €12,500 ($13,200) for breaking betting regulations, Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli has faced another setback. The 22-year-old must now partake in gambling therapy and attend a minimum of 10 public meetings as part of his rehabilitation process.

Tonali and his fellow Italian teammate Nicolò Zaniolo withdrew from the national team squad earlier this month following the release of their involvement in gambling investigations. Zaniolo is currently under investigation. This report includes contributions from CNN's Barbie Nadeau.