Tonali given suspended ban for gambling at Newcastle

Italy international Sandro Tonali has been given a suspended two-month ban for placing bets during his time at Newcastle United.

The former Milan midfielder is already currently serving a 10-month ban that is set to expire in August for breaching the betting rules while he was in Italy.

He has been receiving treatment and counselling for a gambling addiction, which continued after his transfer from Milan to Newcastle United in the summer of 2023.

The English FA charged Tonali in March and he confessed to placing between 40 and 50 football bets while at Newcastle, including four on his own team’s results.

As the bets were always on his side to win, it was treated with less severity than if he had gambled on a draw or defeat.

It is confirmed that he played in three of the four matches that he bet on.

Tonali gambling addiction

The FA also fined Tonali £20,000 and confirmed the bets were “well in excess of 100,000 euros” (circa £85,600).

This is only a suspended sentence, so will not be added to the current ban and will only be activated if he breaches the betting regulations again.

The clampdown on gambling in football is far more stringent in Italy, as Tonali was originally given an 18-month ban, with eight months commuted to a ‘therapeutic plan’ to combat his addiction.