Italian players facing worldwide bans as gambling violation inquiries intensify

Nicolo Zaniolo and Sandro Tonali | Imago

Italian players facing worldwide bans as gambling violation inquiries intensify

Ayoola Kelechi 12:39 - 13.10.2023

Three Italian players could face bans of three years or more if found guilty of betting violations by Italian authorities

Three Italian players are being faced with the possibility of major bans from football as prosecutors intensify their pursuit based on allegations of illegal betting. 

Italian players accused of betting irregularities

Juventus’ Nicolò Fagioli was the first to be trailed by Italian prosecutors over alleged betting violations, and the midfielder was soon joined by Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo. 

Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli squaring up to Atalanta's Ademola Lookman | Imago
Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli squaring up to Atalanta's Ademola Lookman | Imago

The latter two were accosted at the Italian national team’s training camp ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifying match against Malta and were quizzed by police about their connections to an ongoing betting scandal investigation. 

Both players have since left the camp after questioning, as the Italian FA notes that they will need to focus on clearing their name of the charges and will be unable to focus on playing for the Azzurri at this time. 

Players facing lengthy bans for betting violations

All three players were accused of betting irregularities by an Italian journalist, who alleged that some of the players even bet on teams that they were playing for, a clear violation of betting ethics amongst football players. 

Juventus midfielder Fagioli has allegedly already submitted to authorities for punishment and could face a ban of up to three years, which is the minimum penalty for betting violations in Italy. 

Other players under investigation could face stiffer punishments if found guilty and could be railroaded out of their footballing careers with lengthy bans on the table for placing suspicious bets. 

Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo | X/@FabrizioRomano
Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo | X/@FabrizioRomano

Two of the players, Zaniolo and Tonali, no longer play in Italy, where the alleged offences were committed, but they will still face the music of any potential bans, which will be ratified by both UEFA and FIFA. 

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