Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali will be banned from football for 10 months over a betting scandal, the president of Italy’s football association has said.
The 23-year-old only signed for Newcastle from AC Milan this summer. The Magpies paid the Italian club a fee in the region of £55m for his services.
As well as the ban, Tonali must also attend treatment sessions for problem gamblers and give a series of talks about his experience over a further eight-month period as part of an agreement with the Italian football federation.
The ban is also expected to apply to international football with Italy.
The plea-bargain agreement, confirmed by FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, will rule Tonali out for the remainder of Newcastle’s season and next summer’s Euro 2024 tournament should he be banned from international games.
The midfielder came off the bench for Eddie Howe’s team during their 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League at St James’s Park last night.
Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, admitted earlier this month that the player is fighting a gambling addiction.
He 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.”
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