Newcastle United have spoken out on Sandro Tonali's betting allegations.
The Italian footballer for has confessed to placing bets on matches involving AC Milan during his time with the team.
“Newcastle United can confirm that Sandro Tonali is subject to investigation by the Italian Prosecutor's Office and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in relation to illegal betting activity," was said on the club's behalf.
As reported by the Italian Gazzetta dello Sport, he made this admission during a nearly three-hour interrogation at the Turin prosecutor's office. The 23-year-old expressed remorse and has started cooperating with the investigation into illegal betting.
During the questioning, the former Milan player admitted to betting on AC Milan's matches. Such an admission could potentially result in a ban of up to five years, but showing sincere remorse and collaborating with the authorities may lead to a more lenient penalty.
Betting on one's own team is particularly risky, as it can be considered a violation of sports ethics. There are specific regulations in place to address such matters, with provisions stating that it is prohibited to engage in any activity aimed at altering the outcome of a match or competition.
Crucially, Tonali's bets were exclusively on AC Milan victories, and they were placed in matches where he did not participate. This detail is important because it suggests that his betting did not have any influence on his on-field performance, which could serve as a mitigating factor in his case.