Sandro Tonali has been handed a two-month ban from football after admitting to breaching the FA’s betting rules.
The FA has charged the midfielder with 50 breaches of FA Rule E8 for placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023-12 October 2023.
The midfielder even placed a total four bets on Newcastle United, the team he plays for, after joining from AC Milan last summer – including backing his team to beat Man City.
However, provided that he does not commit any further breach of the FA Betting Rules during the suspension period, Tonali will not serve any part of the two-month sanction.
The FA believes that the integrity of the matches was not called into question due to Tonali’s betting, adding: “Whilst Tonali did place bets on his own team, all of these bets were for his team to win the match in question. Tonali’s betting pattern is consistent in this regard.
“There has been no damage to integrity or perception of the integrity of the match in question or the game as a whole.”
The ban is currently suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season, with Tonali being able to return to the Premier League side after serving his 10-month ban from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) – which will end in August.
The independent Regulatory Commission has also imposed a £20,000 fine and warning on the 23-year-old player.
Newcastle FC has stated: “Sandro made full admissions as to his betting activity, and did so in circumstances where there was no other evidence to support misconduct proceedings.
“Sandro is continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educational programme with the club’s full support and will continue to train with his team-mates.”
Reports also confirmed that Tonali took part in an FA training programme about betting in August, nine days before his offences began, but had not fully understood the content because of his ‘limited English’.
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