The eruption of the betting scandal is further proof that Italian football has an incredible ability to shoot itself in the foot, writes Susy Campanale.
We love Calcio for the endless drama, but it can be awfully frustrating when you see the sport you love drag itself regularly through the gutter to keep that crazy content coming. Just as Italy were climbing back up the EURO 2024 qualifying group table and preparing for two crucial matches, having replaced the coach in typically chaotic fashion, here comes another scandal to make us talk about anything but what’s happening on the pitch.
In the past, these scandals have helped unite the Azzurri going into major tournaments, such as the Totonero bans for the 1982 World Cup or Calciopoli in 2006. It is still extremely tough even with those precedents to feel remotely confident when half the top names are injured and the other half is undergoing police interrogations in the Coverciano training camp.
Whereas Calciopoli was all about the clubs and directors at the highest level working behind the scenes in a whispering campaign of influence, this time around the players themselves seemingly bear responsibility.
The rules on professionals betting on other events, such as a different sport or even blackjack, are a blanket ban precisely to protect them from tumbling into a world that can be tough to navigate, especially for very young men who suddenly find themselves with more money than they know what to do with.
It is odd that a sport surrounded by constant advertisement of betting sites should view it so warily for its own workers when more than happy to spread its influence on the general public. In 2018 it became illegal for Italian football clubs to take sponsorship money from betting companies, as it was considered a bad influence. They got around this by advertising instead ‘sports news sites’ that just so happened to also allow you to place bets.
The irony was not lost on many that Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo were accompanied to the police interrogation by Italy chief delegate Gianluigi Buffon, who was alleged to have made a few bets some years ago, when the rules were a little less strict.
By the early reports we are getting, this investigation started with Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli, who acknowledged he was struggling with a serious gambling addiction and sought help from his club. We all remember feeling sad for the boy who burst into tears after giving away a goal against Sassuolo in April. This was perhaps someone feeling the weight of more than just a mistake on the pitch, he was reported to be already racking up debts. If this was gambling on something other than football, and he actively asked for help, then compassion and understanding have to be taken into consideration when discussing punishment.
As the investigation spreads, we have to wait and see what these players were betting on, how they were doing it and who if anyone they owed money from gambling debts. Meanwhile, we can point to the usual self-destructive streak in Italy, as it emerges Tonali and Zaniolo were meant to be interrogated by police after the games, but gossip columnist and all-around terrible human being Fabrizio Corona leaked their names first, forcing a change of tack and ruling them out of facing Malta and England.
Now Corona is promising to drag this out like a reality television show, scheduling announcements of scoops and giving out a name every day, to keep that wheel turning. He also promised once that is finished that he will start to ‘out’ every homosexual player in football, so have absolutely no illusions about him doing this for any reason other than his own self-interest. This is a man who spent time in prison for blackmailing players and directors with photographs when he was known as the King of the Paparazzi.
Yet here we are, hanging on the word of a noxious presence like Corona and treating this as yet another reason to bay for blood. At least this time Italy weren’t the first, as Brentford striker Ivan Toney got himself an eight-month ban for over 250 charges of breaching the betting regulations in England. We may yet find this phenomenon is more widespread than anyone realised and go well beyond the shores of the Peninsula. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Susy you littel rat. you forgot to mention berlucsoni
What exactly did Corona do wrong other than mention those involved in wrongdoing, two of whom have come out and admitted? As always Susy barks up the wrong tree – the bettors are in the wrong, not those calling them out. Whatever Corona does in “leaking” them is his prerogative and does not change the matters behind the story.
“[I]t emerges Tonali and Zaniolo were meant to be interrogated by police after the games, but gossip columnist and all-around terrible human being Fabrizio Corona leaked their names first, forcing a change of tack and ruling them out of facing Malta and England.”
Seems like he’s right though – so why is he terrible for outing people knowingly breaking the rules? They shouldn’t be allowed to play for the Nazionale in the first place, so waiting until “after the games” serves no purpose other than to help them further raise their profiles at the cost of shaming the Nazionale.
@Samy Ibrahim , misogyny ? To be expected.
All these investigations what about the political corruption and scams politicians and owners r pulling for tax benefits and foreign players in italy. Why don’t anyone write and expose that.