Sandro’s lawyers are working on reaching a plea bargain: aiming for a one-year suspension that could come before the Champions League week.
The indication is clear: the Tonali-betting case needs to be closed in record time. As is well known, the Newcastle player admitted to the federal prosecutor, as well as to the prosecutor in Turin, that he placed bets on football and Milan, in violation of Article 24 of the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) Sporting Justice Code.
He is a confessed offender, awaiting judgment. In the fast-paced world of football, where there’s a match every three days, this situation could potentially create significant embarrassment. Is it possible for Sandro Tonali, despite officially violating the code, to continue playing for Newcastle? The answer is yes, at least until a plea bargain is reached, which is the path chosen by the former Milan player.
For this reason, considering the pressures from UEFA on FIGC, there’s a push to fast-track the closure of the case. Monday, the 23rd, will be a crucial day for the Italian. It should be noted that, despite the desire to expedite matters, reaching an agreement that satisfies both the prosecution and the accused rarely happens on the first attempt.
THE SUSPENSION
Regarding the suspension, in light of Fagioli’s sanction (7 months plus 5), but who never bet on his own team, Tonali is at risk of being away from the football fields for at least 12 months, with additional months of alternative punishments (likely five, like the Juventus player).
This involves a therapeutic program and various appearances as an ambassador in the fight against gambling addiction. The negotiation between Chinè and the player’s lawyers will revolve around that at least 12 months.
In discussing the terms of the plea bargain, the defense will emphasize that Tonali immediately wanted to clarify his position, even though it was uncomfortable since betting on Milan and Brescia constitutes an aggravating factor in determining the penalty.
Furthermore, his cooperation, which is different from an admission of guilt, must provide information to the prosecutor about circumstances (facts or names) of which the investigators were previously unaware.
During his interrogation with Chinè, Tonali reportedly extensively explained his position regarding Fagioli’s statements (“He suggested Icebet to me, and there were rumors in the environment that he also had significant debts“). The Newcastle talent emphasized that he’s just a bettor and has never wanted or had to involve teammates or friends. Furthermore, it doesn’t appear that he mentioned any names.
