Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali banned for 10 months for breaching betting rules
Newcastle and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules.
The 23-year-old will not be eligible to play again until August next year and will be unavailable to feature at Euro 2024 next summer should Italy qualify.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July for £55m.
Earlier this month, Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli received a seven-month ban from the FIGC for betting breaches.
Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina said: “An agreement has been reached between the federal prosecutor and Sandro Tonali. The plea agreement is for 18 months, of which eight months is for rehabilitation, which involves therapeutic activity and making at least 16 public appearances.
“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.
During a three-year spell at San Siro, Tonali helped Milan win their first Serie A title for 11 years in 2021-22 and reach last season’s Champions League semi-finals.
He came off the bench during Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Tonali has made 12 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side since becoming the Magpies’ second most expensive signing.
