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- Midfielder has been investigated by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and FIGC in relation to illegal betting activity since early October
- The Big Step: Footballers are human and if they are suffering from addiction they deserve empathy and support, not lengthy bans
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali will serve a 10-month ban from football, a statement from the Italian Football Federation has confirmed.
The 23-year-old midfielder has been investigated by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and FIGC in relation to illegal betting activity since early October. The investigations are thought to involve rule breaches while a player at his former club AC Milan. As yet, there has been no accusation in relation to betting while at the Magpies.
And according to Gabriele Gravina, president of the FIGC, Tonali, who played in Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund, will be handed an 18-month reprimand, eight months of which will involve a rehabilitation program. The Italy international will, however, not be available should his country qualify for Euro 2024 and will not be allowed to kick a ball competitively for the Magpies until the end of August next year.
“An agreement has already been reached between the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and Sandro Tonali, which occurred before the referral, therefore it must be endorsed by the undersigned, which I have already done,” Gravina said.
“A plea bargain is envisaged for 18 months of which eight months is activity recovery, some concerns therapeutic activity and at least 16 face-to-face meetings as testimony.
“A plea bargain is foreseen, mitigating circumstances are foreseen, the boy’s collaborated beyond belief, so we continue to respect the rules we have set for ourselves.”
Newcastle are yet to release a club statement in response.
Head coach Eddie Howe has already pledged his support for Tonali, who, according to recent statements from his agent, is a confessed gambling addict.
“The most important part of all this is Sandro and his welfare,” Howe said. “It’s very easy for people to forget how young he is and the changes he’s had in his life coming from Italy to England — that’s hard enough to deal with and now he has this situation.
“Straight away we threw our arms around him and protect him and try and give him the love and support that he needs to find a solution to the problems he’s had, and that’s what we’re endeavouring to do with a lot of conversations and communication with him and his family.
“It’s not just Sandro, it’s the people around him that are going to be so important to him as well. It’s been a big effort from us and I have to say he’s handled himself superbly well. Obviously emotional but he’s handled himself with respect and dignity.”
The Big Step, a campaign to end all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football, part of Gambling with Lives, a charity set up by families bereaved by gambling-related suicide, have condemned the Tonali decision, pointing the finger firmly at football authorities.
“Footballers are human and if they are suffering from addiction they deserve empathy and support, not lengthy bans,” a statement read.
“Every football game is wall-to-wall with gambling ads, not just across shirts but around stadiums and related media content.
“Sending someone addicted to gambling into this environment is like sending an alcoholic to work in a pub. If you force young footballers to endorse addictive products, then don’t be surprised if they use them.
“Ending all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football, including all parts of the shirt and in every stadium, will help to prevent harm to those on and off the pitch.”