Sandro Tonali’s lawyers released a statement confirming the Italy and Newcastle United midfielder ‘is collaborating with the investigation’ and ‘clarified’ his position, as a plea bargain is expected.
He spent almost three hours speaking to the prosecutor in Turin yesterday afternoon, having already handed over his smartphone and other electronic equipment that was used to place illegal bets.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tonali placed bets on football games, including those of his club Milan when he was still in the squad.
However, he bet on them to win and therefore is unlikely to face sanctions for potential match-fixing, but does have a more serious position than Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli.
Fagioli was handed a seven-month ban from football, with the additional five months used to undergo treatment for gambling addiction and make at least 10 public appearances to encourage others to avoid falling into the same trap.
“Tonali visited the Turin court yesterday to give his deposition to the prosecutor Manuela Pedrotta, just as he had previously met with Federal prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné in the sporting investigation,” read a statement released by lawyers Maurizio M Scaccabrozzi and Marco Feno.
“He fully clarified his position, giving full collaboration to the authorities. As there is still an on-going investigation, it has not been possible yet to give public statements on the matter, but we hope and trust that Sandro Tonali can see his position defined as soon as possible, to continue the positive steps he has already taken.”
Tonali admitted to suffering from gambling addiction and has already begun treatment with a therapist.
Fagioli received a seven-month ban, but reportedly also told investigators it was Tonali who introduced him to the illegal betting site, assuring him it could not be traced back to the players.
It was also Fagioli who handed himself in to the authorities when he realised his debts had become a serious problem, and never bet on his own team, and for all these reasons had a relatively short seven-month ban from football.
Tonali is bound to suffer more serious consequences, with at least a year off the field.