Tonali is free to train with the Magpies and represent the club in friendlies.
The president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has made the final announcement that Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali will be banned from football for 10 months for breaching betting rules.
The 23-year-old is also required to attend treatment sessions for his gambling problems and make himself available for a series of talks.
Tonali will be fined €20,000, but he is free to train with the Magpies and represent the club in friendlies.
The Italy international attended a court hearing in Turin last week. The player himself admitted to betting on football games. Tonali was at risk of a three-year suspension, but Italian FA chief Gabriele Gravina has praised him for ‘collaborating beyond belief’ in the process.
Gravina spoke to reporters, “An agreement has already been reached between the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and Sandro Tonali, which occurred before the referral, therefore it must be endorsed by the undersigned, which I have already done.”
“A plea bargain is envisaged for 18 months of which eight months is activity recovery, some concerns therapeutic activity and at least 16 face-to-face meetings as testimony.
“A plea bargain is foreseen, mitigating circumstances are foreseen, the boys collaborated beyond belief, so we continue to respect the rules we have set for ourselves.”
“We can’t just think about punishing the boys and not helping them recover,” Gravina added. “I think it’s worth a lot more, rather than a month ban, eight months of giving talks about what they went through, in an honest way and with the right behaviour.”
Tonali made substitute appearances in last weekend’s 4-0 Premier League win against Crystal Palace. Tonali will not appear in any 2023-24 game for Newcastle.
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