Sandro Tonali Betting Related Offences Keeps Getting More Twists and Turns
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has received a suspended two-month ban after confessing to breaches of Football Association betting regulations.
The 23-year-old Italian will avoid serving the ban provided he does not commit further violations before the conclusion of next season. This decision comes as Tonali is currently serving a 10-month ban until August for offenses committed during his time in Italy.
Tonali’s charges from the FA date back to March when he acknowledged placing between 40 and 50 football bets after his transfer to Newcastle from AC Milan last July. These bets included four wagers on Newcastle’s results.
The FA revealed that the amount Tonali bet would have exceeded 100,000 euros (£85,600), leading to a £20,000 fine. Notably, all four bets Tonali placed on Newcastle were for his team to emerge victorious, with him playing in three of these fixtures.
Newcastle issued a statement expressing their ongoing support for Tonali as he engages in a therapeutic plan and educational program. He will continue training with his teammates as part of this process.
During the hearing, an independent regulatory commission noted the significant impact this experience has had on Tonali and emphasized his desire to avoid such situations in the future.
The FA contended that Tonali’s misconduct would likely have gone unnoticed had he not admitted to it. This acknowledgment highlights the importance of self-reporting in such cases.
Further details from the commission’s report outlined the specific matches Tonali admitted to betting on, including accumulators and single bets involving Newcastle’s games.
Tonali’s participation in an FA training program on betting just before his offenses began was also mentioned, although it was noted that his limited English comprehension hindered his understanding of the program’s content.
