The FA put out a statement: “Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the FA’s betting rules. It’s alleged that the Newcastle United midfielder breached FA rule E8 50 times by placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023. Sandro Tonali has until 5 April 2024 to respond.”

Tonali has only played in 8 games since his move to Newcastle United last playing on October 21st prior to his 10-month suspension kicking in. Tonali has eight appearances for Newcastle and 1 goal before serving his current suspension.

Newcastle statement on Sandro Tonali’s gambling

Newcastle United did not wait to put out a statement on the matter, “Newcastle United acknowledges a misconduct charge received by Sandro Tonali in respect of alleged breaches of FA betting rules.

“Sandro continues to fully comply with relevant investigations, and he retains the club’s full support. Due to this ongoing process, Sandro and Newcastle United are unable to offer further comment at this time.”

Tonali has provided full disclosure of his gambling addiction, which according to some pundits in Italy is “severe”. Tonali is currently going through rehabilitation for his illness while serving his suspension.

Tonali was seen and is still seen as a major prospect in Italian soccer but due to his issues with gambling his career has derailed after a major start Brescia, AC Milan, and now Newcastle.

The suspension leaves one of the best Italian players out of the current Premier League season and with the Italian national team for the upcoming Euros. Tonali confessed to having bet on AC Milan to win matches, and never to lose or take advantage of other betting opportunities.

Tonali was not investigated for match fixing but will serve his punishment and will seek help as it was reported he would confess to being “addicted” to betting. Both Tonali and Fagioli admitted to signing up to a VIP site and placing their bets, which is in breach of their playing contracts as active professionals cannot place bets of any kind.

Other soccer players caught betting

Both Fagioli and Tonali are not the first to have placed bets on the sport, there is a long list of players who were handed band or fines as a result of their gambling on the sport.

Wayne Shaw – A Sutton goalkeeper that was banned for eight weeks for placing bets, but Shaw denied those charges.

Joey Barton – Bad boy Joey Barton was banned for 18 months for betting; Barton had betted on the sport for 10 years placing over 1,200 bets.

Daniel Sturridge – was given a four-month ban for breaching betting rules. Sturridge was found guilty of providing his brother with insider information on a potential move to Sevilla in 2018.

Martin Demichelis – The now River Plate manager was charged with betting on football matches by the English FA. Demichelis was fined but not banned.

According to La Repubblica, Fagioli has told the Italian Football Federation that Tonali introduced him to the sports betting app that they would use to place their bets. Admitting to betting on sports is just one of the charges, the other being investigated is that the duo betted on certain events and tried to cash in on them in their favor, such as getting a yellow card on a certain minute or corners for one team in a game.

At the moment both players will most likely receive a sanction for betting while being professionals of the game, which is not allowed. Still their sanction can be reduced by collaborating with authorities and doing specific off the field work for the Italian federation, such as being the face of an anti- betting campaign. Still both Sandro Tonali and Nicoló Fagioli could face a ban of up to four years if it is proven that they partook in not only just betting, but placed bets to alter a result or take advantage of a situation.

Tonali could miss the Euros

Tonali has seen his career put on hold as authorities investigate just how deep he is in the betting scandal. Police arrived at Italy’s training for their Euro 2024 qualifying matches and interrogated the star midfielder who confessed to his betting addiction. At the moment if things stay as they are and Tonali receives a minimum sanction, the Newcastle star will most likely miss the Euro Cup, all signs point to a suspension for the Italian star of at least one year.

Fagioli has already begun to cooperate with authorities and confessed to his gaming addiction, while Tonali is soon to do the same as he has admitted to being addicted to betting, but yet to speak with the federation according to reports in Italy. By confessing and seeking help both footballers open themselves up to a reduced sentence.

The careers of Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Fagioli

Sandro Tonali is one of the biggest prospects in all of Italian soccer, making a name for himself at AC Milan before moving to Newcastle United this season. He has 15 caps for the Italian national team.

Nicolò Fagioli is an Italian youth international making a name for himself at Juventus, the midfielder has one cap for the four time World Champions and is in his third season with the Italian old lady.

Both the Newcastle sensation and the Aston Villa midfielder have reportedly left Italy’s training camp after speaking to the authorities just a few days before Azzurra resume their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

Ben Jacobs added that the players in question are heading back to their respective clubs after being notified by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office about the investigation. The Italian Federation also released a statement clarifying this situation.

Italian FA reacts to Tonali, Zaniolo being accused of illegal betting

“The Federation announces that, in the late afternoon of today, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Turin has notified investigative acts to footballers Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo, currently meeting with the national team at the Federal Technical Center of Coverciano,” the federation’s statement read, via Fabrizio Romano.

Tonali, 24, amasses 15 caps with Italy since making his international debut on October 15, 2019 in a 5-0 win over Liechtenstein. He joined Newcastle from Milan this summer in a €64 million move.

Zaniolo, also 24, boasts the same number of appearances for his country, having made his debut on March 23, 2019 in the Azzurra’s 2-0 victory against Finland. He joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Galatasaray in August.

“Regardless of the nature of the acts, considering that in this situation the two players are not in the necessary condition to face the commitments scheduled in the coming days, the Federation has decided, also to protect them, to allow them to return to their respective clubs,” Italy’s statement concluded.

Italy’s next games

While this is obviously a complicated situation for Italy, Luciano Spalletti has to make sure the rest of the squad keeps their head in the upcoming games, which will be important for the team’s future.

Azzurra will welcome Malta to Stadio San Nicola in Bari on Saturday, October 14, on Matchday 7 of the UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers. Three days later, they will take on England at Wembley. Italy are currently second in Group C with seven points, six shy of the Three Lions and tied with Ukraine and Macedonia – but Spalletti’s side has a game in hand.

The Champions League is also the stage for future talents to display what they are made of. Many players break on to the scene with their displays in their respective Champions League matches and catch the eye of fans all over the world.

Here we will review 5 players to keep an eye on in what is left of the Group stage and beyond in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League. Some will get to the next round and others may not, but that does not mean that their talents have gone unnoticed. Here are 5 prospects of the Champions League.

Darwin Núñez

With 3 goals in the competition and a chance to make it to the next round, Uruguayan Darwin Núñez is a player to watch. The 22-year-old has drawn comparisons to Edinson Cavani and has already scored for the Uruguayan national team. A skilled forward with his feet and head, Núñez is said to be on the radar of various teams in Serie A.

Brenden Aaronson

USMNT midfielder Brenden Aaronson is a quick and pacey player that has speed and vision. Aaronson has been sensational for Red Bull Salzburg and at 21 is on the radar of AC Milan. Aaronson is a very good setup man and has pace to score goals usually from deep runs.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Dominik Szoboszlai is another Red Bull player to keep an eye on as the speedy midfielder is now lighting it up in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig. Szoboszlai was player of the year in Austria in 2019/2020.

Sandro Tonali

AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali has worked his way up from Serie B to the top of Italy. Tonali is a work horse and has now begun his Italy career with 4 caps for the national team. Many have compared him to Andrea Pirlo.

Pedri

One of the best prospects of a down Barcelona, Pedri could be the light at the end of a dark tunnel for the club. Winner of the young player award at the Euros at 18 is a very good setup man and has 3 goals in 39 games for Barcelona.