Thursday afternoon has seen the Premier League announced their decision on Sandro Tonali.
Regarding gambling on football matches after signing for Newcastle United.
Sandro Tonali receiving a suspended two month ban.
So, Sandro Tonali won’t see those extra two months activated unless he commits any further breach, with the midfielder set to be available once again, as from 27 August 2024.
Interesting though when digging further, looking at the extra information The FA have given, via their ‘Decision and Reasons’ document (see below) regarding the Sandro Tonali case.
Firstly, The FA admitting they could find no proof at all of Sandro Tonali having placed any bets on football.
Secondly, the only reason The FA were able to take action, was because Sandro Tonali himself volunteered information that he had indeed placed bets on football after signing for Newcastle United.
Thirdly, the player volunteering that he had placed up to 50 bets.
Fourthly, up to four of those were on Newcastle United matches.
Fifthly, all of the NUFC bets were for Newcastle to win.
Sixthly, he couldn’t remember the details of how much any of the bets were for, but none of them were for more than €10,000 (approx £8,500).
Seventhly, amongst the four (at the most) bets Sandro Tonali did place, was on Newcastle United to beat Manchester City! That being the League Cup game in September and a winning bet…
Extracts from The Football Association and Sandro Tonali case – Decision and Reasons document – 2 May 2024:
14. The FA contacted the six regulated betting operators within ‘Exhibit 6 – Device Data’ and
asked them to confirm whether any of the associated accounts showed breaches of The FA’s
Betting Rules.
15. All six operators confirmed there were no breaches of The FA’s Rules through the associated
accounts.
16. The FA also contacted all UK-licensed betting operators and asked them to share any accounts
in the name of ST that showed breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules. No accounts were
identified.
17. ST was interviewed by FA investigators on 5 March 2024.
18. The FA rely upon ST’s admissions within his witness statement and his interview with FA
investigators.
19. ST disclosed placing 40 to 50 football bets since being at NUFC, between 12 August 2023 to
early October 2023, which include up to four bets on NUFC.
20. The four bets on NUFC were all on NUFC to win and can be summarised as follows:
i. An accumulator bet involving either NUFC to beat Brighton & Hove Albion FC on 2
September 2023 or NUFC to beat Burnley FC on 30 September 2023;
ii. An accumulator bet including NUFC to beat Brentford FC, 16 September 2023;
iii. A single bet on NUFC to beat Manchester City FC, 27 September 2023;
iv. An accumulator bet including NUFC to beat West Ham United FC, 8 October 2023.
21. ST stated he cannot remember whether he placed a bet on the Brighton match or the Burnley
match, but was certain that it was not both.
22. ST stated he cannot remember the exact amount he staked on each bet, but it would not be
more than €10,000.
23. ST was an unused substitute for the NUFC v Brentford FC match (exhibit TA/3). However he
was involved in each of the other four matches (exhibits TA/4 to TA/7).
24. Accordingly, ST played in three of the four NUFC matches that he bet on.
25. ST stated he would have placed other bets on the Premier League, but was unable to recall
the specific number, and ST denied placing any bets on the Champions League or on
international football
