Sandro Tonali gets suspended two-month ban following breach of FA betting rules

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a suspended two-month ban and fined £20,000 (€23,000) for breaching Football Association betting rules.

The FA announced on Thursday that an independent regulatory commission had imposed the sanction, which will be in force throughout the 2024-25 season, on the 23-year-old Italy international and warned him as to his future conduct after he had admitted 50 offences.

Tonali, a £55million summer signing from AC Milan, is currently serving a 10-month worldwide ban for similar breaches imposed by the Italian football federation (FIGC) in October last year.

An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali for misconduct in relation to The FA’s Betting Rules.

Full statement and written reasons: https://t.co/xmDhaBhH3x pic.twitter.com/Inte5Polvf

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) May 2, 2024

An FA statement read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali for misconduct in relation to The FA’s Betting Rules.

“The FA charged the midfielder with 50 breaches of FA Rule E8 for placing bets on football matches between 12th August 2023 and 12th October 2023, and he admitted to this.

“The independent Regulatory Commission imposed a two-month suspension from all football and football-related activity, which is suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season pending any further breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules, as well as a £20,000 fine and warning.”

The decision means Tonali, who had made just 12 appearances for the Magpies when the original suspension was imposed, will be free to play again on August 27, and that will come as a relief to head coach Eddie Howe, who saw the player’s acquisition ahead of a