Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is facing potential additional bans as the Football Association (FA) has launched an investigation into whether the Italian international placed bets on football matches following his transfer to the Premier League club.
Tonali previously received a 10-month ban after admitting to multiple breaches of gambling rules during his time with Brescia and AC Milan. His agent, Giuseppe Riso, revealed that Tonali has been struggling with a gambling addiction. Now, reports from The Telegraph suggest that he could face a longer ban if it’s proven that he continued to bet after his £55 million ($68 million) transfer from Milan to Newcastle.
The FA has reported that Tonali has cooperated fully with their investigation, and they are currently deliberating on whether to take further action against the summer signing. As it stands, Tonali is unable to play for Newcastle until the end of August 2024.
It is expected that the FA will take into account the ban imposed by the Italian Football Federation, which applies worldwide. They will decide whether their own punishment, if any, will run concurrently with the existing ban.
Newcastle’s director of football, Dan Ashworth, expressed disappointment over losing a player of Tonali’s caliber for an extended period and emphasized the club’s cooperation with relevant authorities. Newcastle is set to play Arsenal on November 4 in the Premier League, with Tonali’s availability hanging in the balance pending the FA’s decision.
