28 October 2023 , 11:48
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Newcastle United have confirmed Sandro Tonali will serve a 10-month suspension after being charged with betting-related breaches by the Italian Football Federation.
The Magpies confirmed the news with a particularly matter of fact statement that read: " Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned from competitive football for ten months, as effective from Friday 27th October 2023, following illegal betting charges by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
"FIGC's sanction includes an overall 18-month ban, with eight months commuted as the player participates in a therapeutic plan and educational programme in Italy consisting of 16 commitments.
"On the evening of Friday 27th October, Newcastle United received confirmation that FIFA has endorsed FIGC's sanction to be applied worldwide, meaning Sandro will be eligible to return to competitive football from Tuesday 27th August 2024."
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe reiterated that his club will do their best to ensure that the former AC Milan playmaker, who Newcastle paid £55million to sign back in July before his gambling addiction emerged, is rehabilitated during the 10-month ban.
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"I am not going to say that he owes the club an apology to you," Howe told reporters. "That conversation is between the club and Sandro and myself and I don't think public statements are needed at this stage.
"I will have to see the whole time he will be unable to play and then work out a plan for him. It will be very very difficult for him. He will get a feeling of monotony where he is not playing and training is a difficult thing and I've seen it many times with players.
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Sandro Tonali will be out of action for 10 months (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)"We need to keep his mind fresh and his body able to execute what he needs to do big pitch stuff. It will be a challenge for us to make sure he comes out of the period, hopefully, a better player than the player who leaves us now.
"If he is banned for that time he is going to have difficult moments in that time frame. 10 months is a long time for a professional athlete not to do what he does. Especially on the scale of the pitch. In training you can get used to small-sided games."