Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali could be handed a ban exceeding one-year in the next few days as he faces the consequences of his involvement in the Italian football betting scandal.
That’s according to Gazzetta dello Sport, who say a ‘medical certificate’ confirming his gambling addiction does not appear to be helping his cause.
The newspaper explains that Tonali will negotiate a fine with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in a short amount of time, with the most probable scenario that they reach an agreement before Wednesday’s Champions League game between Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund.
That would help the midfielder avoid embarrassment and him ending up in limbo, something they’re keen to avoid given he has admitted everything and his responsibility.
A ‘plea’ agreement identical to the one Nicolo Fagioli worked out, which will see him spend seven months banned and involved in therapy to overcome his addiction, is not possible.
The more likely punishment will be for a year, or even a little more, with more ‘robust provisions’ than those put on the Juventus man. The plan is for ‘quick justice’ either way, so the Newcastle man could be banned sooner rather than later.
Not that it will be the end of it as there is every chance the case will be reopened and examined further down the line, should more evidence be made available.
The positive is that the prosecutors are ‘convinced’ of the credibility of his testimony, accepting that he has a ‘fatal attraction’ towards gambling.
That won’t stop him from being banned, or even lessen the punishment, but is being taken into consideration and accepted by those prosecuting, nonetheless.
