Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli handed seven-month ban for illegal betting

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed that Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli has been handed a seven-month ban from football for illegal betting, after agreeing a plea bargain with Italian prosecutors.

Fagioli has also been fined €12,500 for breaching Article 24 of the sporting justice code, which forbids betting of any kind on football events organised by the FIGC, UEFA and FIFA.

The 22-year-old was originally set to be handed a 12-month ban from football, but five of those months will be suspended, with the midfielder ordered to undergo treatment for gambling addiction for at least six months.

The one-cap Italy international's ban will therefore end his season with Juventus, but the punishment is significantly less severe than the three-year ban from football that he could have faced.

A statement from the FIGC read: «The Federal Prosecutor's Office has reached an agreement (pursuant to art. 126 CGS) with the footballer Nicolo Fagioli following which he will be sanctioned with a 12-month disqualification, 5 of which will be commuted to alternative prescriptions, and a fine of 12,500 euros, for the violation of art.24 of the CGS which prohibits the possibility of placing bets on football events organized by FIGC, UEFA and FIFA.

»Regarding alternative prescriptions, Fagioli will have to participate in a therapeutic plan lasting a minimum of 6 months and in a cycle of at least 10 public meetings, to be held within 5 months, at amateur sports associations, federal territorial centres, centres for recovery from gambling addiction, and in any case according to the indications and program proposed by the FIGC.

«Federale will monitor compliance with what is indicated and, in case of violations, will adopt the