SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Sandro Tonali is returning to Newcastle United FC after a 10-month ban from professional football for betting on matches.
The Italian midfielder’s return to active duty comes at a crucial moment for the club, occurring just a few days before the start of the Premier League season, although Tonali will be absent for the club’s opening game against Southampton.
His ban, issued by the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC), the Italian football federation, will expire after 27 August. This will allow Tonali to play against Tottenham Hotspur on 1 September, but he will miss the EFL Cup clash against Nottingham Forest on 26 August.
Tonali was suspended from all football activity in two separate rulings last year, one issued by the FIGC and the other by the English Football Association (FA).
The Italian’s ban lasted for the aforementioned 10 months, whilst the FA suspension – issued seven months after the Italian one in May 2024 – was for just two months.
Lombardy-born Tonali admitted to breaching football’s betting laws in October last year after being implicated in an investigation into a large-scale illegal gambling ring, thought to be connected to a criminal organisation by Italian law enforcement.
He faced a ban of up to four years, but his lawyers were able to argue for the suspension to be set at 10 months due to his cooperation with authorities.
There was a risk he could face a more severe penalty due to allegations of placing bets on AC Milan whilst he was playing for the Serie A club.
The FA later issued a two month ban for 50 breaches of its E8 betting rule between August and October 2023, also handing out a £20,000 fine.
Tonali signed for Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023 for £55m, making him the most expensive Italian player of all time. Some of the bets he placed during the August-October period identified by the FA were on Newcastle.
