Sandro Tonali was photographed for the first time at St. James’ Park for a game against Arsenal after incurring a ten-month ban for betting offenses.
Sandro Tonali was photographed in the stands at St. James’ Park for the first time since his ten-month suspension.
The Italian midfielder was barred from competitive football last week after confessing to unlawful gambling offenses, and as part of the sanctions, he will be treated for a “gambling addiction.”
Tonali may still practice with Newcastle but cannot be selected for competitive matches, forcing him to watch from the stands.
Newcastle sports director Dan Ashworth expressed “massive shock” at Tonali’s betting violations , and announced the club is conducting an internal investigation into the transfer.
Tonali joined Newcastle from Serie A giants AC Milan in the summer for a fee of £55 million, but he will be out for the rest of the season, putting manager Eddie Howe’s season goals in jeopardy.
Before his suspension, the 23-year-old had a shaky start to his Newcastle career, but he did show flashes of quality.
He will, however, be frustrated when he sees Newcastle take on Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.
The Football Association is now examining if Tonali broke betting regulations after his £52 million move to Newcastle in July, according to Mailsport, which means he might face another ban.
Tonali has admitted to being a gambler, and the FA is investigating whether any offenses were committed in England.
The Italian Football Federation issued his initial ban following an inquiry into Tonali and fellow Italian players Nicolo Fagioli and Nicolo Zaniolo.
For the time being, Tonali will only be on the bench for the Newcastle game, leaving Eddie Howe with a replacement headache.
