Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct over 50 other alleged betting offenses by the Football Association (FA).
The 23-year-old Italian international is already serving a 10-month ban from competitive football, imposed last October, after being found guilty of breaching gambling rules by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). His agent, Beppe Riso, then declared that his client was suffering from a “gaming disease”.
Athleticism explains what these latest accusations are, whether they could lead to another suspension and what it all means for Tonali and Newcastle.
What was Tonali accused of by the FA?
Tonali has been charged with misconduct in connection with 50 alleged counts of betting on football matches during the first two months of the 2023-24 season. This would contravene Rule E8 of the Football Association regulations.
These are new accusations, issued by the FA and covering only this two-month period, while his current ban was imposed by his Italian counterpart and covered several seasons.
An FA statement released on Thursday said: “Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the FA betting rules. It is alleged that the Newcastle United midfielder broke FA Rule E8 on 50 occasions by betting on football matches between August 12, 2023 and October 12, 2023. Sandro Tonali has until April 5, 2024 to answer.
Why is Tonali currently banned?
On 26 October, Tonali was suspended from playing for Newcastle or the Italian national team for 10 months after being found guilty of breaching playing rules by the FIGC.
The scope of the charges brought by the FIGC covered gambling offenses “at least from the 2021-22 football season and until the start of the current football season (2023-24)” and concerned “the results of official matches organized within the FIGC (Serie A). , Serie B and minor leagues) and foreign professional football championships”.
GO FURTHER
Sandro Tonali: The ban, the fallout, the Newcastle-Milan meal and what’s next
Tonali violated article four, paragraph one, of the body’s sports justice code, as well as article 24, paragraphs one and two, which cover betting “directly or through intermediaries, both with authorized persons only with persons and platforms not authorized to receive them.” .
The ban expires next August but includes a further eight months of rehabilitation, including therapy, as well as 16 public appearances in Italy at amateur clubs, federal training centers and drug charities. Tonali was also fined €20,000 (around £17,000/$21,500 at current exchange rates).
Nicolo Fagioli of Italian club Juventus and fellow midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, on loan to Premier League side Aston Villa from Turkish club Galatasaray, were also investigated in the same case. Fagioli received a seven-month ban from football in October after reaching a deal with the FIGC, but Zaniolo did not bet on football.
Do we know which games the FA claims Tonali bet on?
He claims Tonali gambled on football after his move from AC Milan to Newcastle at the beginning of last July, specifically between Saturday August 12 – the day he scored six minutes into his official debut in English football in a 5-1 win over Aston Villa in the opener. weekend of the current Premier League season – and Thursday October 12.
This second date corresponds to when Tonali was first questioned by police at the Italian national team’s Coverciano training ground in Florence, as part of an investigation into illegal digital betting platforms.
Between these two dates, Tonali made 10 appearances for Newcastle, the last of which came in a 2–2 away draw against West Ham United on 8 October. He also represented Italy against North Macedonia in a European Championship qualifying match on 9 September.
Tonali played twice for Newcastle after October 12, appearing as a substitute against Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on October 21 and 25 respectively, but the scope of the charges does not cover those two matches.
The matches Tonali allegedly bet on have not been disclosed. It is also unclear whether the 50 alleged violations include matches he played for Newcastle or Italy.
What did Newcastle say?
Newcastle released a brief statement on Thursday acknowledging the FA’s accusation.
“Sandro continues to fully comply with relevant investigations and he retains the full support of the club,” they said. “Due to this ongoing process, Sandro and Newcastle United are unable to make any further comment at this time.”
The club also refused to say whether the accusations covered matches involving Newcastle.
However, Newcastle are confident that Tonali’s eventual return to playing, or his ability to train in the meantime, will not be affected.
They believe Tonali cooperated proactively and willingly with the investigation, including passing information to the FA in the autumn.
It took almost six months between Tonali handing over these details and the player being charged, with the FA’s investigation said to be very detailed.
Has Tonali played or coached since his initial ban?
Tonali’s ban didn’t stop him training with Eddie Howe’s first team at Newcastle – although there was a week or so where the club weren’t sure he would be capable, given that England striker Ivan Toney was unable to do so with Brentford for a while. period during an eight-month ban for breaching FA betting rules which expired in January – with his world-class quality a daily reminder of what Newcastle have been lacking, something which has been amplified by their football crisis. injuries.
Tonali has put in extra work during his absence, with several figures on the training ground paying tribute to his “brilliant” attitude and work rate. He attempted to improve his athleticism and overall dynamism and worked closely with Howe’s staff to meet their tactical requirements. Specifically, a speed coach had him do tailor-made exercises to help him accelerate, decelerate and change direction at maximum power.
“Despite the obvious frustration for me, I’m very happy that he’s training at this level and it’s a hallmark of his character,” Howe said recently.
Although Tonali is not allowed to take part in competitive matches during this ban – which is due to end on August 27 – and Newcastle understands that he cannot take part in mid-season or pre-season friendlies either. season, the hope is that when his exile As their pre-season draws to a close, they can hold matches behind closed doors to perfect his fitness.
Tonali is allowed to attend Newcastle matches and has regularly attended matches at their home St James’ Park, although he cannot venture into certain areas of the stadium, given the terms of his suspension.
Could Tonali see his ban extended?
It depends on the exact nature of these latest alleged offenses. Details of Tonali’s gambling in Italy were never disclosed, as part of a deal reached with prosecutors. However, an FA investigation will see details of the allegations published upon its conclusion.
If Tonali is found guilty of betting on one of his own teams – or even against them – this will be an aggravating circumstance. However, at this stage, while this remains a possibility, there is no indication either way whether this is part of the FA’s charges.
Another factor comes into play: whether a new ban will be served concurrently or consecutively. In the first case, Tonali would serve any suspension imposed by the FA alongside whatever remains of that handed down by the FIGC – while in the second, Tonali would complete his initial punishment before immediately beginning another.
These issues will be decided at an upcoming hearing – it is understood the FA recognizes Tonali’s admission of a “playing illness”, and that this will form part of the mitigation measures.
Did Tonali or his camp say anything?
There have been no public comments from Tonali or his representative since the FA announced their charges.
In October, after the player was questioned by police, his agent Beppe Riso said: “Sandro is a little shaken by the situation.
“But he has already started fighting back. Sandro is a fighter. The biggest game started against an illness. Sandro is used to big matches and he usually wins them. Sandro’s experience will save the lives of other children.
“I would like to thank Newcastle. They have always been at Sandro’s side. He is training and could play on Saturday. He realized he had to face this problem. The club is absolutely at his side.
Representatives for Tonali have been contacted for comment on the new accusations.
What does this mean for Newcastle?
In the short term, not much. They were already reconciled to Tonali’s absence until the start of the 2024-25 season, so there is no change to Howe’s immediate plans.
This news does not help the club’s feeling beleaguered and battered by events – from this to a long list of injuries, to their inconsistent form and results, to their concerns over a possible breach of profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), up to Dan Ashworth. , their sporting director, is on gardening leave before moving to Manchester United.
Tonali’s arrival was aimed at easing the burden on Bruno Guimaraes, their midfield talisman, without whom Newcastle have struggled to win matches. With that out of the way, and with Guimaraes’ future already uncertain given these PSR constraints, does the possibility of a new ban for Tonali have any repercussions on a summer transfer window that already seemed difficult?
Then there’s Tonali’s state of mind to consider.
Tonali has been a visible presence on the training ground and has also been exploring her new home town and the nearby Northumberland coast, and attending public events. He now speaks English fluently, having worked hard to acclimatize, although the last five months have been difficult.
“He is a charming and committed young man, but we know he misses playing,” said a senior Newcastle source, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships. Athleticism earlier this season. “It’s a huge thing. The difficulty will be keeping him motivated. Everything for a footballer is based on match preparation and that adrenaline is impossible to replicate.
Regular sessions have been held with Dr Ian Mitchell, the new head of Newcastle’s psychology department, and more are expected.
This news is another blow, for Tonali personally and for Newcastle as a club, during what has been an extremely eventful campaign for both.
Additional reporting: George Caulkin and James Horncastle
(Top photo: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)