It’s official: Tonali is on ‘vacation’ until August 2024

Both British and Italian media managed to find out ahead of the official announcement that Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali will be banned from football for 10 months due to illegal betting, and today the official confirmation arrived. FIGC President Gabriele Gravina told media that a 10 month ban will be followed by an eight month therapy.

Tonali banned for ten months

“The FIGC Prosecutor and Tonali have reached an agreement which I have already approved. A plea bargain is envisaged for 18 months of which 8 months is activity recovery, some concerns therapeutic activity and at least 16 face-to-face meetings as testimony. A plea bargain is foreseen, mitigating circumstances are foreseen, the boys collaborated beyond belief, so we continue to respect the rules we have set for ourselves” he said.

The ban starts immediately, which means that Tonali’s off the bench appearance in a 0-1 home defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last night was his last game until late August 2024. The midfielder is expected to be free to train with Newcastle during his suspension, but cannot play any official matches, and he will also miss Euro 2024 with Italy, in case the current European champions qualifies for the final tournament.

UCL: The Germans conquer England as Borussia win at St. James Park

This ban is also very problematic for Newcastle, not only in the long run. Apart from Tonali, the Magpies are also without Harvey Barns (long term injury), while Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy got injured last night, along with Elliot Anderson, who has a back injury and will miss a few weeks. Newcastle has a busy schedule ahead, with games with Wolves (away), Manchester United in Carabao Cup (away), Arsenal (home) Borussia (away), Bournemouth (away), Chelsea (home) and PSG (away) in November. Due to injuries, they currently have only one healthy left and right winger (Gordon and Almiron), one striker (Callum Wilson) and three starting midfielders, with Joe Willock slowly getting back from injury. January buy becomes a must, but the Magpies will have to decide will they buy or loan a player to help them until May 2024.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE- GROUP STAGE

Thursday

19:45: (3.35) Olympiakos (3.50) West Ham (2.25)

19:45: (10.0) TSC Backa Topola (5.20) Freiburg (1.37)

19:45: (1.75) Olympique Marseille (3.70) AEK (5.40)

19:45: (4.50) Aris Limmasol (3.60) Betis (1.90)

19:45: (2.10) Sparta Praha (3.60) Rangers (3.70)

19:45: (5.00) Rakow (3.70) Sporting (1.80)

19:45: (3.80) Sturm (3.50) Atalanta (2.00)

19:45: (1.80) Molde (3.70) Hacken (5.00)

22:00: (1.37) Brighton (5.60) Ajax (8.50)

22:00: (1.22) Liverpool (7.75) Toulouse (13.0)

22:00: (1.65) St.Gilloise (3.90) LASK (6.00)

22:00: (2.85) Panathinaikos (3.30) Rennes (2.70)

22:00: (1.80) Roma (3.70) Slavia Praha (5.00)

22:00: (2.45) Sheriff Tiraspol (3.45) Servette (3.05)

22:00: (1.22) Leverkusen (7.00) Qarabag (11.0)

***odds are subject to change***