Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is being investigated by prosecutors in Italy for allegedly breaching betting rules, the Premier League club has said.
The Italian Prosecutor’s Office and the Italian Football Federation have launched investigations into the football star, who joined the Magpies from AC Milan for £55m in the summer, but could now face a lengthy playing ban.
Tonali, 23, was withdrawn from the Italy squad ahead of Tuesday’s Euro 2024 qualifying defeat to England at Wembley, along with fellow Italian, Nicolo Zaniolo, who is on loan at Aston Villa from Turkish club, Galatasaray.
Tonali and Zaniolo last week returned to their clubs from Italy’s training camp after it emerged they were being investigated.
Newcastle have said in a statement: “Sandro Tonali and Newcastle United can confirm that Sandro Tonali is subject to investigation by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in relation to illegal betting activity.
“Sandro is fully engaging with the investigation and will continue to cooperate with all relevant authorities.
“He and his family will continue to receive the club’s full support.
“Due to this ongoing process, Sandro and Newcastle United are unable to offer further comment at this time.”
Tonali was one of several players named in an Italian football betting investigation last week and it has been reported that he admitted at a hearing on Tuesday to betting on matches involving AC Milan.
Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli was banned for seven months by the FIGC for breaching betting rules on Tuesday.
Juventus’ Nicolo Fagioli. File pic
Fagioli had five months of a one-year ban suspended and was fined 12,500 euros (£10,848), and agreed to have six months of treatment for his gambling problem, the FIGC said.
Tonali, who has 15 senior caps for Italy, has made seven Premier League appearances.
His agent, Giuseppe Riso, admitted the player is fighting a gambling addiction, while speaking at an event at the Italian embassy in London on Tuesday.
Mr Riso said: “Sandro suffers gambling addiction. He’s fighting to avoid that and I’m sure he will win this difficult game.
“He is in shock, he is shaken and sad. I hope that this experience saves his life and that of many others, that it helps those who fall into the same habit as him.
“Sandro is training, and on Saturday he could also play.”
Fagioli, 22, has told investigators he was “threatened” by managers of illegal betting platforms, who told him they “would break his legs” and had to borrow money from two teammates to help cover his debts, Italian media has said.
He began to lose sleep and briefly sought help but by September 2022, he was gambling incessantly, he said.
The pressure was so high that in April he broke into tears after being taken off during Juventus’ game against Sassuolo.
“I started crying when I sat on the bench, thinking about my debts and betting problems,” he said.
