Newcastle stunned by reports Tonali has admitted to betting on Milan games

The top dogs in Newcastle are reeling from the unexpected news circulating in Italy that Sandro Tonali allegedly placed bets on Milan games while he played for the Serie A team.

Tonali, who moved to Newcastle for £55m from San Siro during this summer, could face a long-term suspension from playing football if he is found to have made such wagers. This could be an issue for Eddie Howe's team as it may leave a big gap in the squad. Moreover, it brings up uncomfortable questions about the complex relationship between football and gambling.

According to reports, a 23-year-old midfielder from Italy admitted during a meeting at the city prosecutor's office in Turin on Tuesday that he placed bets on Milan winning multiple games, some of which he participated in.

According to the rules set by the Italian Football Association and Fifa, players who admit to involvement in certain activities may be banned for up to three years. Tonali, who reportedly received significant support from Howe, is currently working with both football and civil authorities and has acknowledged that he needs help for his "gambling addiction," as described by his agent. As a result, it is probable that the former Italy Under-21 captain will receive a lesser, one-year suspension.

It may take around a month to receive the verdict as the investigators need to finish examining Tonali's mobile phone and tablet. To speed things up, the midfielder's lawyer asked for a three-hour questioning session with Turin's city prosecutor, Manuela Pedrotta. She is responsible for investigating many accusations of illicit betting in Italian football.

Newcastle United is getting ready to expand its business relationship with Saudi Arabia as they plan to collaborate with Saudia, which is the country's official airline, and make them their official partner in the airline industry.

Newcastle has not yet confirmed the sponsorship deal, but Saudia posted a "Stay Tooned" message with an image of St James' Park on their social media accounts on Tuesday. The deal, which is thought to be valued at approximately £3m per year, is expected to last for a long time.

Just this June, Newcastle, which is controlled 80% by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, completed a deal worth £25 million with Saudi Arabian events company Sela to have their logo on the front of the team's shirts.

As the Sela agreement adhered to the commercial regulations for fair market value in the Premier League, there should be no issues with a contract with a smaller airline. Those in charge at the Premier League have expressed contentment that it is a legitimate representation of market value.

The head of Newcastle, Darren Eales, is working hard to boost the club's financial gains despite the limitations posed by financial fair play rules that restrict the owner's aspirations.

Looking at the bigger picture, there are strategies in place to establish Saudia flights straight from Newcastle airport to the Kingdom. This would cater to a diverse group of travelers ranging from business commuters to vacationers who want to enjoy the sun during winter at Saudi's Red Sea resorts.

The monarchy is making significant investments in commercial initiatives in the north-eastern region of England, particularly in eco-friendly fuels in the area of Teesside.

Newcastle has chosen Dr. Ian Mitchell to serve as their head of psychology. Mitchell is highly respected and has experience playing professionally for Hereford United. He has also worked with Sheffield United and Swansea, as well as held important positions with both the English and Welsh men's teams.

Mitchell worked alongside Gareth Southgate as a member of England's support team. The team achieved the second place at Euro 2020, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also made it to the quarterfinals in Qatar's World Cup held last winter.

On Wednesday, Tonali traveled from Turin to Newcastle for their upcoming games. He is able to participate in these matches, starting with a home game against Crystal Palace this Saturday, followed by another game against Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park next Wednesday.

Newcastle released a statement on Wednesday stating that Sandro is actively participating in the investigation and will remain cooperative with any relevant authorities. The club reassured Sandro and his family that they will continue to offer their complete support.

The Italian Football Association (FA) suspended Nicolò Fagioli, who plays as a midfielder for Juventus, for a year. However, five months of the suspension are suspended due to his admission of breaching the regulations. Moreover, Fagioli has to pay around £11,000 as a fine and must undergo at least six months of therapy to deal with his gambling addiction.

According to Tonali's representative, Guiseppe Riso, the player is dealing with a problem related to gambling and is currently facing the toughest obstacle of his otherwise successful career. Riso mentioned that Tonali is in a state of shock and realizes that he has erred in judgement. However, the agent hopes that this experience will serve as a wake-up call for Tonali and enable him to overcome his addiction. Additionally, Riso believes that Tonali's story will inspire and assist others who are struggling with similar issues to seek help.

People first became suspicious that something was wrong when Tonali, along with Nicolò Zaniolo, a winger on loan to Aston Villa, were taken out of the Italy men's training camp last Thursday. The reason for this was due to a police search, conducted by Turin's "flying squad," at Coverciano, which is where the team trains in Florence. The investigation was due to allegations that players were participating in online gambling through websites that were not authorized.

As part of a lengthy Italian investigation into unlawful gambling within soccer, believed to involve a minimum of 12 players, both he and Zaniolo, who had been borrowed from Galatasaray, had their smartphones and tablets confiscated.

During his Friday press conference, Howe will be questioned about the matter and is anticipated to approve of the supportive position explained by Gabriele Gravina, who is the president of the Italian Football Association.

On Tuesday, Gravina expressed his sympathy towards Tonali and Zaniolo, stating that he feels for them as they are like his own children. He believes they should not be judged and condemned for struggling with gambling addiction, which is a widespread issue in society. Those who have made mistakes will receive appropriate punishment and support for their recovery. Gravina emphasized the importance of helping these young individuals, ensuring that they have the opportunity to bounce back. He also made a promise that they will not be left to deal with their struggles alone.

According to Gianluca Tognozzi, the lawyer who is representing Zaniolo, the football player did not make any bets. Tognozzi told La Gazzetta dello Sport that it is likely that Zaniolo played a card game such as poker or blackjack on a platform that was not legal, but he didn't know this at the time. Tognozzi expressed that they will clarify the situation.

If Newcastle does not support Tonali, then they could be accused of hypocrisy. This is because the club is associated with three gambling companies and this could raise questions about their supposed values. The Big Step, a charity that focuses on gambling addiction, has suggested that both Aston Villa and Newcastle United should reconsider their ties to gambling companies and support their players instead.

The Premier League has stated that football clubs are not allowed to feature names of gambling companies on the front of their shirts starting from the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. However, advertising inside stadiums will still be permitted.

In 2019, the Italian government made national laws stricter regarding gambling and, as a result, Serie A clubs were prohibited from having sponsorships from betting companies. La Liga in Spain made a similar decision two years prior.

In May, Ivan Toney, a player for Brentford's soccer team, was given a punishment of eight months for breaking the betting regulations of the English Football Association. He was also found to have an addiction to gambling. Toney is scheduled to resume his position as a striker for Brentford in January. He will be required to wear a jersey that has a gambling sponsor's advertisement.