Newcastle's Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali banned for 10 months for betting violations

By Can Erozden

Newcastle United and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali on Thursday were banned for 10 months from football for betting violations.

Italy's state-run ANSA news agency reported that Tonali, 23, was handed a "10-month ban for gambling on illegal platforms and on his former club AC Milan."

As part of an agreement with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), he must attend an eight-month treatment session.

So Newcastle United's summer signing Tonali will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 English Premier League season and the next summer's UEFA EURO 2024 finals if Italy can secure a berth. The EURO 2024 will be held in Germany in June and July.

Saudi-owned Newcastle United in July signed Tonali for £56 million ($68 million).

Last week, Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli was handed a seven-month ban by the Italian football body for violating betting rules.

The FIGC previously said that Italy's Fagioli, 22, will have to "follow a therapy plan" to recover from his gambling addiction.

Tonali andNicolo Zaniolo, a former Roma and Galatasaray midfielder, who is now playing for Aston Villa in England, were implicated in the illegal betting scandal, which originated with Fagioli.

Earlier October, police took statements from Zaniolo along with his Italy teammate Tonali at the Italian National Team's training camp.