Looks like Sandro Tonali can’t escape the drama. The Newcastle United midfielder, who’s already sitting out games for a betting mess last year, just got hit with even more trouble from the English Football Association (FA).
Tonali Blamed for Betting Binge
The FA claims Tonali went on a bit of a betting bender, placing wagers on Prem matches a whopping 50 times between August and October last year. That’s a big no-no according to FA rules, which basically say players can’t gamble on games.
“Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of FA betting rules. The Newcastle United midfielder allegedly broke FA Rule E8 50 times by placing bets on football matches between August 12, 2023 and October 12, 2023. Sandro Tonali has until April 5, 2024 to respond”, indicates the press release published by the English Football Association.
This is a huge bummer for both Tonali and Newcastle. The club splashed a cool €70 million on Tonali last summer, but thanks to his first suspension, he’s only played in eight Premier League matches so far.
Despite the new accusations, Tonali seems determined to fight his corner. He’s got until April to respond to the FA’s claims.
Newcastle Stands by Their Man (For Now)
Newcastle United officially acknowledged the charges against Tonali but says they still support the player. They put out a statement saying Tonali’s cooperating with the investigation, but can’t say much more since it’s all still ongoing.
Newcastle United acknowledges a misconduct charge received by Sandro Tonali in respect of alleged breaches of FA Betting Rules.
Sandro continues to fully comply with relevant investigations and he retains the club’s full support.
Due to this ongoing process, Sandro and… pic.twitter.com/x62qU4hx5A
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 28, 2024
Will Tonali Ever Play Again?
These new charges could mean Tonali gets stuck on the sidelines even longer. That wouldn’t be good news for him or Newcastle’s season. It’s anyone’s guess how this Premier League drama will play out, but one thing’s for sure: Sandro Tonali’s future in the league is anything but certain.