The therapist treating Italy and Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali for gambling addiction explains why betting on Milan became ‘part of ritual behaviour’ and how he can return after the ban ‘even better than before.’
The former Milan midfielder was placed under investigation last week, which forced him to leave the Italy camp ahead of EURO 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England.
He recognised that he has a problem and is undergoing treatment with Professor Gabriele Sani, while working out a plea bargain with the public prosecutor that should still see him suspended for at least a year.
“Gambling addiction is a pathological dependence and there are some internationally recognised definitions to recognise and identify it. The most evident is when the pleasure of gambling is replaced by feeling the ‘need’ to do it,” Sani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“This pathology can strike anyone, without distinction. Young players have the stress and responsibility of external pressures and media attention. These are situations that can generate anxiety and a dysfunctional mechanism to ‘cure’ anxiety can become the adrenaline of gambling. It becomes a compulsive behaviour, something they cannot control, in which eventually the winning of money becomes entirely irrelevant.”
Compared to Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli and seemingly Aston Villa star Nicolò Zaniolo, Tonali is in a more difficult legal position because he also placed bets on his own teams, Milan and Brescia.
However, as he only ever bet on his teams to win, he cannot be accused of trying to adversely affect the result to suit his bet.
“A gambling addict has a rituality about his behaviour and follows a ‘good luck’ sequence. This is why Sandro was placing bets on Milan to win. It was part of his good luck charm, what we call the ‘magic thought’ in this treatment.”
While Tonali is expected to be suspended for at least a year and presumably also miss EURO 2024 next summer, Professor Sani is confident he can recover from this to live a normal career and life.
“If the player reached this level despite this problem, once he has freed himself of it, he will be even more able to express his potential and perhaps do even better than before.”
As part of the plea bargain, Fagioli and therefore presumably also Tonali will agree to make at least 10 public appearances to encourage others not to fall into the same trap of gambling addiction.
“Players have a potent public image and sharing this story can help many young people to recognise themselves, recognise the illness and to face it.”
Miss the euro? They wont even be there
A ban is too harsh for betting on your team to win- playing or not. This ban decision is ridiculous and should be contested in a court of law if Mr. Tonali was not betting on a defeat or draw result.