Italy/illegal sports betting: a ten-month ban from football for Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United FC)

• An 18-month ban on playing football, eight of which will be commuted to alternative penalties (participation in at least 16 public meetings in amateur sports associations, territorial federal centres and centres dedicated to gambling addiction);
• A €20,000 fine;
• An obligation to follow a sports betting awareness course for at least eight months.

This is the content of the agreement reached between the FIGC Federal Prosecutor’s Office and Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United FC, Premier League) after the latter "violated Article 24 of the CGS (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio Sports Justice Code) that prohibits betting on football events organised by FIGC, UEFA and FIFA," announced the Italian Football Federation on 26/10/2023. These sanctions remain applicable despite the player's €64m move to England from AC Milan during the 2023 summer transfer window.

The sanctions were imposed as part of a wide-ranging investigation in Italy into illegal sports betting by football players. Italian international midfielder Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus FC, Serie A TIM…