Sandro Tonali: Newcastle United midfielder handed two-month suspended ban for FA betting breaches

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been given a suspended two-month ban after he admitted to breaching the Football Association’s betting rules.

The 23-year-old is already banned from football until August 2024 after being found guilty of betting on matches during his time in Italy.

Tonali was then charged in March for up to 50 breaches of FA Rule E8 between August 12 and October 12 of last year after he joined Newcastle.

However, he won’t have to serve his two-month suspension if he avoids further sanctions between now and the end of the 2024/25 season.

Tonali has also been fined £20,000 but will be eligible to return from August 27 as it stands.

Newcastle released a statement on the matter saying: “As acknowledged by the FA in the independent Regulatory Commission's written reasons, the level of assistance Sandro has provided by self-referring and fully cooperating with a subsequent investigation is extraordinary and unprecedented.

“Sandro made full admissions as to his betting activity, and did so in circumstances where there was no other evidence to support misconduct proceedings.

“Sandro is continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educational programme with the club's full support and will continue to train with his teammates.”

According to the FA, the money placed on bets by the Italian midfielder was "well in excess of 100,000 euros" - which equates to roughly £85,600.

Also in the FA’s findings, the four separate bets he placed on Newcastle - where he played in three of the four fixtures - were all on Eddie Howe’s side to win.

The four Newcastle matches Tonali admitted to betting on, included in the written reasons issued on Thursday were:

An independent regulatory commission found that the process is something Tonali “does not want to experience again".

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