Newcastle's Sandro Tonali is facing a potential ban of up to three years due to an investigation into illegal betting. Alongside him, Nicolo Zaniolo, currently on loan at Aston Villa, was also involved in this probe initiated by the Italian football federation (FIGC).
They left Italy's training camp upon learning about this investigation and were subsequently questioned by the police.
The allegation revolves around their use of illegal online betting platforms. In Italy, using licensed bookmakers is not a criminal offence. However, utilizing unlicensed bookmakers can lead to criminal charges, carrying a sentence of up to three months or a fine ranging from €51,000 to €516,000.
If it's proven that they did bet on football, this would breach Article 24 of the sporting justice code. The penalty for this offence is a ban of at least three years and a fine of at least €25,000. This suspension can be reduced by 50 percent through a plea bargain, potentially bringing it down to 18 months.
According to The Telegraph, any ban from this investigation would likely apply worldwide, including the Premier League. The situation is certainly one to watch closely.
