Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been given a two-month suspended ban from football and has been fined £20,000 for breaches of the FA's betting rules.
The former AC Milan lynchpin is already serving a 10-month suspension after an investigation from Italian Prosecutor's Office and the Italian Football Federation into illegal gambling offences during his time in Italy.
Tonali admitted to having a gambling addiction as he was slapped with his 10-month penalty in October, which ruled him out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season and Italy's Euro 2024 campaign.
Five months into his existing ban, the FA announced that Tonali had been charged with another series of 50 betting offences, alleged to have taken place during his earliest days in a Newcastle shirt from 12 August and 12 October 2023.
The 23-year-old - who has been able to train with his Magpies teammates during his suspension - had until April 5 to respond to the charge, and Newcastle said in a statement that he had "self-declared" his indiscretions.
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Tonali following "therapeutic plan" after "extraordinary" admissions
As a result, an independent commission has handed the Italy international a two-month suspended ban and £20,000 fine, but he will not serve any of his penalty as long as he does not commit any more offences during his current suspension.
Tonali will therefore be free to resume competitive football from the start of the 2024-25 season if there are no more breaches of the FA betting rules, and Newcastle described the midfielder's level of assistance with the investigation as "extraordinary" as he continues to get help for his addiction.
"#NUFC midfielder Sandro Tonali has been given a suspended two-month ban from competitive football by an independent Regulatory Commission after self- declaring breaches of FA Betting Rules," the Magpies said. "He has also been fined £20,000 and warned by the FA as to his future conduct.
"The banning period is fully suspended for the duration of the 2024/25 season, meaning he will be available to return to competitive football upon the conclusion of an existing ten-month sanction imposed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on 27 October 2023.
"Provided that he does not commit any further breach of the FA Betting Rules during the suspension period, Sandro will not serve any part of the two-month sanction.
#NUFC midfielder Sandro Tonali has been given a suspended two-month ban from competitive football by an independent Regulatory Commission after self- declaring breaches of FA Betting Rules.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) May 2, 2024
He has also been fined £20,000 and warned by the FA as to his future conduct.
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"As acknowledged by the FA in the independent Regulatory Commission's written reasons, the level of assistance Sandro has provided by self-referring and fully cooperating with a subsequent investigation is extraordinary and unprecedented.
"Sandro made full admissions as to his betting activity, and did so in circumstances where there was no other evidence to support misconduct proceedings. Sandro is continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educational programme with the club's full support and will continue to train with his teammates."
Tonali scored one goal in his first 12 matches for Newcastle before starting his 10-month suspension, and his last appearance for Howe's men came in a 4-0 home win over Crystal Palace in October.
The Magpies paid £54.8m to bring Tonali to St James' Park from San Siro, and the former Brescia starlet has also contributed two assists in 15 senior appearances for the Italy national team.
Newcastle sit seventh in the Premier League table and are back in action away to relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
