The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has banned Newcastle United midfielder, Sandro Tonali for ten months for breaking betting regulations.
Based on this development, Sandro Tonali will not play for Newcastle United for the rest of the season and won’t play for Italy if they qualify for Euro 2024.
The 23-year-old Italian midfielder who joined Newcastle United from AC Milan for a transfer fee worth £55 million in July 2023, is expected to stay out of football until August 2024.
Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation, has confirmed that the federal prosecutor and Sandro Tonali have reached an agreement which is described as a plea deal that is expected to last for eight months.
After the expiration of the plea deal phase, the Italy international is expected to engage in therapy and make at least sixteen public appearances as part of the rehabilitation process.
“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,” Gravina told Sky Sports Italia.
Tonali and fellow Italian midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, who is on loan at Aston Villa from Galatasaray, were informed on October 12 that they were being investigated by the Italian prosecution and had to leave Italy’s training camp as a result.
During his three seasons at San Siro, Tonali guided Milan to the Champions League semifinals the season before and their first Serie A title in eleven years in the 2021–2022 season.
Since joining the Magpies as the second most expensive signing, Tonali has made 12 appearances for Eddie Howe’s team.
The post FIGC Bans Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali For Ten Months appeared first on Naija News.