GAMBLING SHOCK
Sandro Tonali still part of investigation with Newcastle ace and Man Utd flop among 12 probed in illegal betting scandal
Tonali previously handed major ban
SANDRO TONALI is reportedly still being investigated as part of a probe into alleged illegal betting in Italy involving TWELVE players.
The Newcastle star previously served a 10-month ban in October 2023 for betting on matches, including his then-team AC Milan.
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But the Italian press claims prosecutors in Italy are investigating 12 current and former Serie A stars - that still includes Tonali - in a fresh illegal betting probe.
They include ex-Manchester United flop Angel Di Maria, formerly at Juventus and now at Benfica, and Fiorentina's Nicolo Fagioli - who, like Tonali, has already served a ban for illegal betting.
Other players caught up in the new storm are Juventus duo Weston McKennie and Mattia Perin, Roma's Leandro Paredes, Atalanta's Raoul Bellanova and Torino's Samuele Ricci.
Italian media outlets ANSA and AGI both claim that all 12 players are being investigated for poker games and betting on sporting events - but not football matches - on banned gambling platforms.
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It’s added that Italian prosecutors allege Tonali and Fagioli were rewarded financially for recruiting other gamblers to the clandestine platforms.
On Friday morning, the Milan prosecutor’s office placed five people under house arrest for “illegal gambling activities and money laundering.�?/p>
A total of £1.3million was seized from a jewellery store in Milan, which prosecutors believe to be the base of the illegal operation.
None of the 12 footballers alleged to be caught up in the investigation were among those arrested.
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It’s claimed that if they are guilty, the players are likely to just face a fine.
But that would be separate from any punishment dished out by the Italian Football Federation.
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Tonali was previously handed a 10-month ban from football in October 2023 after betting on football matches.
He revealed he had a gambling addiction and missed Italy’s failed defence of their Euro crown last summer.
Tonali was also absent for a large chunk of Newcastle’s 2023/24 campaign before returning to first-team action last August.
The midfielder, a £60million signing from Milan in July 2023, has played 37 times so far this season.
And last month he helped Toon win the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley.
Newcastle declined to comment when approached by SunSport.
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Fagioli was also suspended for seven months in October 2023 and revealed he too was a betting addict.
The midfielder joined Fiorentina on loan from Juventus last summer and has so far played 11 times this term.
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