Sandro Tonali Receives Suspended Ban for Betting on Matches
Sandro Tonali, midfielder for Newcastle United, has been handed a suspended two-month ban by the Football Association (FA) after admitting to multiple breaches of FA Rule E8. This ruling pertains to Tonali’s betting activities on football matches that took place from August to October 2023.
Detailed Account of the Charges
Tonali faced a total of 50 charges for his betting activities during the specified period. Notably, four of these instances involved bets placed on matches involving his own team.
Despite the potential severity of these actions, the FA’s statement provided some relief: “Whilst Tonali did place bets on his own team, all of these bets were for his team to win the match in question. Tonali’s betting pattern is consistent in this regard. There has been no damage to integrity or perception of the integrity of the match in question or the game as a whole.”
FA’s Ruling and Penalties
The FA’s independent Regulatory Commission has decided to suspend the ban until the end of the 2024/25 season, allowing Tonali to resume playing in the Premier League after completing a separate 10-month ban issued by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in August. Additionally, Tonali has been fined £20,000.
Newcastle United’s Supportive Stance
Newcastle FC has expressed support for Tonali, acknowledging his full admission of the betting activities. The club stated, “Sandro made full admissions as to his betting activity, and did so in circumstances where there was no other evidence to support misconduct proceedings. Sandro is continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educational programme with the club’s full support and will continue to train with his team-mates.”
Language and Education Barriers
An interesting facet of this case is Tonali’s participation in an FA training program on betting in August 2023, which he reportedly did not fully understand due to his limited English. This highlights the challenges international players may face in fully comprehending the regulations and educational programs provided in a foreign language.
