Newcastle Midfielder Sandro Tonali Given Suspended Ban for Betting Offences
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a suspended two-month ban by the Football Association after admitting breaches of betting rules. The Italian player will not have to serve the ban if he avoids committing further breaches before the end of next season.
Tonali, who is currently serving a 10-month ban set to expire in August for previous offences during his time in Italy, confessed to placing between 40 and 50 football bets after joining Newcastle from AC Milan last July. These bets included four on Newcastle’s results, with the total amount placed exceeding £85,600.
Despite all four bets being for Newcastle to win and Tonali playing in three of the fixtures, the midfielder has been receiving support from the club and will continue to train with the team. An independent regulatory commission acknowledged the profound impact the process has had on Tonali, who has expressed a desire not to repeat the experience.
The FA stated that it would have been unlikely for them to uncover Tonali’s misconduct without his admissions. The matches Tonali admitted to betting on include Newcastle’s games against Brighton, Burnley, Brentford, Manchester City, and West Ham.
It was revealed that Tonali took part in an FA training programme about betting in August, but his limited English proficiency hindered his full comprehension of the content. The midfielder’s case serves as a reminder of the stringent betting regulations in place within football and the consequences of breaching them.
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