The Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office revealed that the Newcastle midfielder and the forward Nicolo Zaniolo, who is on loan from Aston Villa, were under investigation. Last week, both players returned to their clubs from Italy’s training camp.
Nicolo Fagioli, a Juventus midfielder who was also under investigation, received a seven-month penalty from the Italian Football Federation for breaking betting regulations.
At his hearing on Tuesday, Tonali “admitted to betting on matches – both in which he played and didn’t play – for Milan to win.” Sky Sports has reported that Newcastle are “shocked and surprised at the revelations, but are for now making no comment.”
Only in the summer did the Magpies sign the Italy international from Milan in a £55 million transfer from the Italian powerhouses. Sport legal expert Emiliano Cardena of La Scala Associates was asked if the Serie A club’s contract with Newcastle would be jeopardized in the event that Tonali is found guilty.
According to Cardena, the only way that there might be a risk is if Newcastle could show that Milan knew about this and had chosen to ignore it.
Tonali acknowledged during his Tuesday hearing that he had wagered on Milan to win games in which he participated as well as those in which he did not. Newcastle is reportedly astonished and surprised by the findings, according to Sky Sports, although they have not yet commented.
The Italy international was only signed by the Magpies in the summer after a £55 million move from the Italian powerhouses, Milan. Emiliano Cardena of La Scala Associates, a sport lawyer, was asked if Tonali’s conviction would affect the Serie A club’s agreement with Newcastle.
Cardena claims that the only way there could be a problem is if Newcastle could demonstrate that Milan was aware of this and choose to overlook it.
Illegal gambling and covert betting are punishable by law. Over time, it has distinguished between two categories of offenses: sports-related gaming and betting, and fraud in athletic contests.
Let’s think about how, in the case of the first, the promise guarantees a different outcome for the team than what would have happened if the match had taken place. However, people who arrange unlawful games and betting are subject to punishment under state law for the second category of offense. Football players receive the same punishments as “regular” citizens—that is, anyone who participates, even on a platform.
The risk is arrest for up to 3 months and a fine of up to 500 euros. However, the concern for a footballer who bets on illegal sites is not linked to state law but to sporting law. In some ways that is manageable, the penalties are not unsustainable.”
