The Juventus player was suspended by the Italian Football Federation on Tuesday after being guilty of sports betting in recent years.
This is the first sanction in a case which could shake up Italian football more widely in the coming weeks. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced in a press release, Tuesday October 17, the firm suspension for seven months of the Italian international Nicolo Fagioli (one selection), guilty of having placed money on sports bets, despite article 24 of the FIGC which prohibits it for professional football players.
The affair broke out last Thursday, when Italian investigators showed up at the Italian team’s training center in Coverciano, on the eve of a match against Malta. Sandro Tonali (15 caps) and Nicolo Zaniolo (15 caps), respectively players of the English clubs Aston Villa and Newcastle, were called upon to answer questions from the courts on a larger investigation concerning illicit bets made on clandestine platforms .
Both players were subsequently returned to their clubs by the FIGC. The latter was already considering the sanction to be applied to Nicolo Fagioli. After denouncing himself last August, the 22-year-old Juventus player knew his career was in danger: according to the regulations of the Italian federation, sports betting is punishable by three years of suspension.
Tonali and Zaniolo await their sanction
For having collaborated with Italian justice, the player, however, only received a seven-month suspension and a fine of 12,500 euros. To avoid being penalized for an additional five months, Nicolo Fagioli will have to “participate in a therapeutic plan of at least six months and in a cycle of 10 public meetings, to be carried out over a period of five months, with amateur sports associations, federal territorial centers, addiction recovery centers game“, it is specified in the FIGC press release.
Last May, it was the English international Ivan Toney (1 selection) who was suspended for eight months by the English Football Federation for betting on sports betting sites. In Italy, Italian justice fears the involvement of many other players. Sandro Tonali, an important player in the Newcastle team which crushed Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League (4-1), and Nicolo Zaniolo are now awaiting their sanction.
Further revelations may come to light in the coming days and weeks regarding this “scandalo scommesse” (betting scandal). It is in this context that the Italian selection must obtain its qualification for the next Euro. 2nd in Group C tied on points with Ukraine, the Nazionale faces England on Tuesday evening. “If irregularities have been committed, you will have to pay.”announced coach Luciano Spalletti about his players affected by this affair.