In a significant blow to Newcastle United and the Italian national team, midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a 10-month ban, which has now been confirmed by FIFA.
This suspension comes as a result of a breach of betting rules, as determined by Italian authorities.
The Italian football federation made the announcement regarding Tonali’s suspension on Thursday, following an extensive investigation into the matter.
Initially, there was some uncertainty surrounding the situation, with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe suggesting that Tonali might still feature in the upcoming Premier League clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers, as the club had not yet received official confirmation of the ban.
However, FIFA has now officially granted the request by the Italian federation to extend Tonali’s sanction, making it effective worldwide.
This means that the 23-year-old midfielder will miss the rest of the season for both his club and country.
Sandro Tonali, who joined Newcastle United from AC Milan in July for a hefty fee of approximately £55 million ($67 million), has reportedly admitted to having a gambling addiction, as stated by his agent.
This revelation has shed some light on the circumstances surrounding his breach of betting rules.
Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle United, expressed his disappointment and frustration about the situation, particularly since the club had no prior knowledge of the potential ban when they signed Tonali.
Newcastle currently stands at sixth place in the Premier League, with an impressive record of four wins in their last five games.
The absence of a quality player like Tonali for an extended period will undoubtedly pose a challenge for the team.
In addition to his club commitments, Tonali will also miss Italy’s potential participation in the European Championship next year, should they qualify for the tournament.
This adds to the growing list of international footballers facing sanctions for betting-related violations, as evidenced by the recent seven-month ban handed to Juventus and Italy midfielder Nicolo Fagioli.
Furthermore, Newcastle United has been hit by injuries to key players.
Alexander Isak aggravated a groin injury during a match against Borussia Dortmund, and Jacob Murphy suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Howe indicated that Isak’s groin injury is a recurrence of a previous issue, while Murphy’s shoulder injury presents additional challenges for the club.
The repercussions of Sandro Tonali’s ban will undoubtedly have a significant impact on both Newcastle United and the Italian national team, with fans and pundits closely watching how these developments unfold in the coming months.
