Sandro Tonali: Newcastle’s Midfielder Cleared to Face Crystal Palace Despite Investigation

Sandro Tonali, the Italian midfielder making waves in the Premier League with Newcastle, has recently found himself in the midst of a stormy investigation into alleged illegal betting activities. However, the good news for the Magpies’ faithful is that their talismanic midfielder is set to grace the pitch when they face off against Crystal Palace this Saturday, as confirmed by the club’s manager, Eddie Howe.

Tonali, who has already featured in seven of Newcastle’s eight Premier League games this season, starting in five of them, had been under the scrutiny of both the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and the Italian football federation. These investigations stem from allegations of involvement in illegal betting activities. But in the world of football, it seems that controversy is often accompanied by its own set of twists and turns.

Interestingly, while Sandro Tonali’s case has been making headlines, another Italian footballer, Nicolo Zaniolo, who is also embroiled in the same investigation, has been declared available for selection by Aston Villa to play against West Ham on Sunday.

Speaking about Tonali’s availability, Eddie Howe commented, “[Tonali] is very much available for selection. He’s had a very, very difficult couple of weeks, he’s been dealing with a lot, and, from what I can see, from a few hours a day, he’s handling himself really well and is dealing with emotions incredibly strongly.”

The saga began when Tonali and Zaniolo were called back from Italy’s training camp for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England after news broke of their involvement in the investigation. Despite this off-field turbulence, Tonali has been an essential cog in Newcastle’s midfield machinery since his arrival from AC Milan in July for a whopping £55 million. In his seven Premier League appearances, he’s managed to find the back of the net once, endearing himself to the Geordie faithful.

Eddie Howe shared his initial reaction upon hearing the news about Tonali’s investigation: “I got a phone call from Dan Ashworth [Newcastle’s sporting director] during the international break. It was a total surprise to me, to him, to everybody. These are things when you’re in this job that can happen. My immediate thought process was to make sure Sandro was OK.”

In a statement released by Aston Villa, they clarified Nicolo Zaniolo’s situation, saying, “Zaniolo is assisting the Italian Football Federation and the relevant authorities’ investigation into alleged illegal betting activity. The player has also met with senior officials at the club. Zaniolo is training as normal with the first-team squad and available for selection ahead of this weekend’s match with West Ham United.”

The issue of illegal betting and its consequences in football has recently come to the forefront. Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli was handed a seven-month suspension by the Italian football federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules, with five months of that ban suspended and a fine of 12,500 euros (£10,848). Fagioli also agreed to undergo a therapy plan of at least six months to address his gambling problem.

Eddie Howe emphasized the importance of education in dealing with such issues, especially for young players in football academies. He said, “Education is always the most important thing, in academies, getting information through to players and developing good habits in life, so important as a professional athlete. We try to get as many players as we can to have as long a career as possible. Our duty as a football club is to help them do that.”

Despite these off-field distractions, Newcastle has been putting up an impressive performance on the pitch. The team currently sits eighth in the Premier League, with four wins from their first eight games and an unbeaten streak in seven across all competitions. Their recent 4-1 win over Paris St-Germain in the Champions League at St James’ Park showcased their potential on the European stage, adding an exciting dimension to their journey this season.

So, as Newcastle prepares to face Crystal Palace in their upcoming Premier League clash, the fans can take solace in the fact that Sandro Tonali will be donning the black and white stripes once again, bringing his skill and energy to the team, and perhaps, helping them scale greater heights in this season’s football adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Betting Investigation

More about Betting Investigation

• Sandro Tonali – BBC Sport player profile.
• Nicolo Zaniolo – BBC Sport player profile.
• Italian Football Federation – Official website for the Italian Football Federation.
• Premier League – Official website for the Premier League.
• Aston Villa – Official website for Aston Villa Football Club.
• Juventus – Official website for Juventus Football Club.