Newcastle and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months by the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting guidelines.
The 23-year-old won’t be eligible to play once more till August and shall be unavailable to characteristic at Euro 2024 subsequent summer time ought to Italy qualify.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July for £55m.
Earlier this month, Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli acquired a seven-month ban from the FIGC for betting breaches.
The FIGC confirmed that Tonali had breached the rule which prohibits gamers putting bets on soccer occasions organised by FIGC, Uefa and Fifa, and he has additionally been fined 20,000 euros (£17,380).
It added that the federal prosecutor and Tonali had agreed to an 18-month disqualification, eight months of which shall be commuted to “a therapeutic plan” to assist “restoration from playing dependancy”.
That may embody a minimum of 16 public appearances in Italy, at newbie sports activities associations and “federal territorial centres”.
FIGC president Gabriele Gravina informed Sky Sports activities Italia: “The plea discount and extenuating circumstances have been considered and the gamers’ collaboration went above and past, subsequently we should proceed to respect the principles we now have established for ourselves.”
Juventus’ Fagioli had 5 months of a one-year ban suspended and was fined 12,500 euros (£10,850). Fagioli additionally agreed to a remedy plan of a minimum of six months to sort out his playing drawback.
Tonali and fellow midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, who’s on mortgage at Aston Villa from Galatasaray, left Italy’s coaching camp on 12 October after being informed they had been concerned in an investigation by Italian prosecutors.
Throughout a three-year spell at San Siro, Tonali helped Milan win their first Serie A title for 11 years in 2021-22 and attain final season’s Champions League semi-finals.
He got here off the bench throughout Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League on Wednesday.
Tonali has made 12 appearances for Eddie Howe’s facet since changing into the Magpies’ second most costly signing.
Talking earlier than Newcastle’s final Premier League fixture, a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, Howe stated Tonali had endured a “troublesome couple of weeks”.
“He is been coping with quite a bit and, from what I can see, from a number of hours a day, he is dealing with himself very well and is coping with feelings extremely strongly,” Howe added.
Newcastle, who’re sixth within the Premier League, journey to Wolves on Saturday earlier than dealing with Manchester United within the fourth spherical of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
‘Newcastle have proven Tonali nice assist’
Talking earlier than Tonali’s ban was introduced, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer informed BBC Radio 5 Reside it will likely be “actually troublesome” for Tonali to stay dwelling in England whereas he’s banned from taking part in.
Nonetheless, Shearer added that the “Newcastle public have proven nice assist” to the Italian.
“He [Howe] got here out and caught up for him as you’d anticipate and he stated he wished everybody to place their arms round him,” Shearer stated.
“Actually the group did that on the weekend [against Crystal Palace] and after they had been going around the pitch on the finish he bought a fantastic reception. There is a positive steadiness between a punishment and defending folks.”
Brentford and England ahead Ivan Toney is serving an eight-month ban for breaking Soccer Affiliation betting guidelines – together with betting towards his personal crew in seven video games the place he didn’t play.
Premier League golf equipment have collectively agreed to withdraw playing sponsorship from the entrance of their matchday shirts by the top of the 2025-26 season.
Nonetheless, after the deadline, golf equipment will nonetheless have the ability to proceed that includes playing manufacturers in areas comparable to shirt sleeves and LED promoting.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil stated there must be “good schooling” for gamers round playing.
“If I am going again to once I was taking part in, it was in all places. It was a part of the tradition, it was on the crew bus, folks checking scores at half-time,” O’Neil stated on Thursday, earlier than Tonali’s ban was introduced.
“It could appear enjoyable and nothing, however rapidly you are lacking soccer for eight months and lacking a great deal of cash.”
Crystal Palace supervisor Roy Hodgson added: “What occurred to Ivan and Sandro, that sadly is their accountability and possibly not the truth that they play for a soccer crew with a betting identify on their shirt.
“I would not agree that the sponsors’ golf equipment have made gamers gamble. The choice to gamble is a person resolution. Perhaps extra schooling is required, I could not disagree with that.”
A press release on behalf of The Huge Step, a marketing campaign to finish all playing promoting and sponsorship in soccer, learn: “Footballers are human and if they’re affected by dependancy they deserve empathy and assist, not prolonged bans.
“Each soccer sport is wall-to-wall with playing advertisements, not simply throughout shirts however round stadiums and associated media content material.
“Sending somebody hooked on playing into this setting is like sending an alcoholic to work in a pub. If you happen to drive younger footballers to endorse addictive merchandise, then do not be shocked in the event that they use them.”
