Sandro Tonali, the Italian midfielder for Newcastle United, has reached an agreement regarding the consequences of his secret betting habit on football games during his time with Milan and Brescia. As part of the settlement, Tonali will have £11 million of his pay “suspended” while serving a 10-month ban for violating betting rules in Italy. The ban is set to end in August, shortly after the commencement of the Premier League season in 2024.
This resolution was negotiated by Tonali’s lawyers and comes after a week-long plea bargain process. During this process, Tonali admitted to his offenses and acknowledged having a gambling problem. Initially facing a four-year suspension, the ban was gradually reduced due to his cooperation, testimony, and agreement to seek therapy and attend meetings with local associations and youth teams in Italy. The final ban was determined to be ten months, with an additional eight months of “alternative” sentences.
Tonali played his last game of the season for Newcastle, coming off the bench in a 1-0 defeat to Dortmund. The manager, Eddie Howe, expressed his full support for the player and affirmed that Tonali would continue with Newcastle in the long term.
Newcastle acquired Tonali from Milan for £55 million in July, and the club has yet to comment on whether they will take any legal action or proceed with transfer instalments, considering the player’s historical issues. Reports from Italy suggest that his “salary will be suspended,” potentially providing Newcastle with financial flexibility to sign a replacement in January, with Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips being linked as a possible target.
Tonali’s absence presents a significant challenge for Newcastle, as they are already dealing with injuries to other key players. Harvey Barnes, another major summer signing, is expected to be sidelined until January, representing £90 million of fresh investment not contributing to the team. While Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall were signed as backup full-backs for a combined outlay of £50 million, they are not yet first-choice options. Additionally, Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy, and Elliott Anderson are also currently unavailable, but Joe Willock has returned to fitness.