Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a further two-month suspension for breaching the English Football Association (FA) betting guidelines. The revelation was made by the English Federation itself last Thursday (02).
Athlete is already serving a 10-month ban in Italy
Currently, Tonali is already serving a 10-month suspension imposed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The reason would be his illicit involvement in betting during his performance in Italian football.
There was a possibility that his sentence could be increased with punishment from the English entity, but, to Tonali’s relief, the FA opted for a suspension of just two months.
Thus, Tonali will only be able to return to action next season. The FA fined the player 20 thousand pounds (around R$127 thousand), in addition to the suspension, and warned him about his future conduct.
But unlike Brentford striker Ivan Toney, Tonali was allowed to train by Newcastle despite the sanction. The English club stated that the player will continue to follow a therapeutic plan and an educational program, with the club’s full support.
Tonali arrived as the most expensive reinforcement in Newcastle‘s history, costing 70 million euros (around R$340 million) to the club’s coffers. But he will miss the remainder of the season and will only return to action in August 2024.
The player will also be left out of the 2024 Euro Cup.
Tonali will be able to train with his Newcastle teammates
In an official statement, Newcastle confirmed Tonali’s suspension for two months, after the player confessed to violations of the FA Betting Rules. This means he will be available to return to competitive football following the completion of a ten-month sanction imposed on October 27, 2023.
The FA praised the player for the outstanding assistance he provided, highlighting his full cooperation during the investigation as extraordinary and unprecedented.
Tonali fully admitted his betting activity. Now, he has the support of his current club and is receiving appropriate treatment, in addition to training alongside his teammates.
