Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is facing a 12-month ban after admitting to betting on games involving AC Milan.
On Tuesday the 23-year-old told a hearing at the Italian Federation in Turin that he had placed a number of bets on the Rossoneri to win in games that he was both involved in and absent from.
Gambling on games involving your team carries a potential three-year suspension from football, but it is believed that Tonali will only sit on the sidelines for one year following his co-operation with the investigation.
Despite Tonali’s admission of guilt, the Football Association say he is cleared to line out for the Magpies this weekend when they take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League, according to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope.
“The FA say Sandro Tonali is still free to play for Newcastle on Saturday but they will wait for outcome of Italian investigation before commenting further,” Hope tweeted. “If Tonali has a gambling addiction, there is the possibility he has placed bets under their jurisdiction.”
The player’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, publicly revealed Tonali is battling a gambling addiction. “Sandro is playing his most important game, against betting addiction. He’s in shock, very sad,” he said on Tuesday.
”He has to face this. He is training at the moment. He can play Saturday. He knows he made a mistake and is quite shaken. But he understands that he must face the matter with determination. Newcastle have always been close to him. He is playing the most important game of his career, that of gambling addiction, but I am sure he will win it.
“Sandro is in shock, but he is continuing to train and maybe on Saturday he will even be able to play. I hope this gambling addiction issue will help to save Sandro’s life as well as many other young guys affected by the same problem. Sandro understood that he has to focus on this issue and face gambling addiction with a strong, determined approach.”
