Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali handed 10-month ban for illegal betting

The president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed that Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali will be banned from football for 10 months for breaching betting rules, after negotiating a plea bargain with Italian prosecutors.

Tonali, 23, is also required to attend treatment sessions for his gambling problems and make himself available for a series of talks about his experience over a further eight-month period as part of an agreement with the FIGC.

In addition, Tonali will be fined €20,000 (£17,438), but the midfielder is free to train with Newcastle and represent the club in friendlies.

Tonali attended a court hearing in Turin last week where he admitted to betting on football games, both in which he played and did not play, for his former club AC Milan to win during his time at the Serie A side, and his agent Giuseppe Riso later revealed that the player is battling with a gambling addiction

Tonali was at risk of a three-year suspension from football without cooperation in the investigation under FIFA regulations, but Italian FA chief Gabriele Gravina has praised the midfielder for 'collaborating beyond belief' in the process.

«An agreement has already been reached between the Federal Prosecutor's Office and Sandro Tonali, which occurred before the referral, therefore it must be endorsed by the undersigned, which I have already done,» Gravina told reporters.

«A plea bargain is envisaged for 18 months of which eight months is activity recovery, some concerns therapeutic activity and at least 16 face-to-face meetings as testimony.

»A plea bargain is foreseen, mitigating circumstances are foreseen, the boys collaborated beyond belief, so we continue to respect the rules we have set for ourselves."

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