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According to various sports media reports, the Italian FA has confirmed that Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months from football due to a betting probe.
Newcastle United midfielder and Italian National footballer Tonali has not only been banned from playing football for 10 months but he will also have to have an extra eight months of rehabilitation activities, following his ban.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) handed Tonali the ban.
The 23-year-old will not be eligible to play until August and therefore will have no part in the 2024 Euros, should Italy qualify.
Other Italian players, Nicolò Fagioli, Nicolò Zalewski and Nicolò Zaniolo, have also been caught in the same betting probe, however, not all of them have been disciplined yet.
Earlier this month, Fagioli received a seven-month ban from the FIGC for betting breaches, a similar ban to Tonali.
Up until now, it wasn’t revealed what the consequences would be for the players. Will the other players’ punishment follow suit or will they all get disciplined in different ways?
The agreement will now be passed on to the Italian National Olympic Committee for approval before it is extended internationally.
Italian Football Federation President, Gabriele Gravina, told Sky Sports Italia: “An agreement has been reached between the federal prosecutor and Sandro Tonali. The plea agreement is for 18 months, of which eight months is for rehabilitation, which involves therapeutic activity and making at least 16 public appearances.
“The rules call for a certain number of years of suspension, but the plea bargain and extenuating circumstances have been taken into consideration and the players’ collaboration went above and beyond, therefore we must continue to respect the rules we have established for ourselves.”
