Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a suspended two-month ban and £20,000 fine for breaches of the Football Association’s betting regulations.
The Italy international is currently serving a 10-month worldwide ban imposed in October 2023 for breaking betting rules in Serie A.
Tonali admitted the FA charge of misconduct which involved placing 50 bets on matches between August 12 and October 12.
He bet on five matches involving Newcastle: an accumulator involving either Newcastle to beat Brighton on September 2, 2023 or to beat Burnley on September 30; an accumulator including Newcastle to beat Brentford on September 16; a single bet on Newcastle to beat Manchester City on September 27 and an accumulator including Newcastle to beat West Ham on October 8.
His sentence is suspended until the end of next season, meaning he is still eligible to play when his first sanction ends in August 2024.
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Newcastle were eager to highlight the 23-year-old complied with the independent investigation fully.
The club said: “The banning period is fully suspended for the duration of the 2024/25 season, meaning he will be available to return to competitive football upon the conclusion of an existing ten-month sanction imposed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on 27 October 2023.
“Provided that he does not commit any further breach of the FA Betting Rules during the suspension period, Sandro will not serve any part of the two-month sanction.
“As acknowledged by the FA in the independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons, the level of assistance Sandro has provided by self-referring and fully cooperating with a subsequent investigation is extraordinary and unprecedented.
“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.”
#NUFC midfielder Sandro Tonali has been given a suspended two-month ban from competitive football by an independent Regulatory Commission after self- declaring breaches of FA Betting Rules.
He has also been fined £20,000 and warned by the FA as to his future conduct.
The… pic.twitter.com/D3DprSAhBa
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) May 2, 2024
