In recent times, professional footballers from top European leagues have been involved in gambling, betting, and match-fixing activities, whether it be in the Premier League or Serie A. These illegal activities have surfaced, leading to players being banned from playing.
Surprisingly, it’s strictly not allowed according to the FA rules in Italy and England for players to participate in match betting. Yet, a few top Italian footballers like Nikolo Zaniolo, Sandro Tonali, and Nicolo Fagioli have violated the regulations and will consequently face bans.
Who is Nicolo Fagioli?
The 22-year-old Italian midfielder, Nicolo Fagioli, is a member of Juventus FC and has also represented Italy’s national team. Fagioli, a product of Juventus’ youth academy, ascended through the ranks of the club’s youth team to make his debut for the main squad last season.
This season, he has appeared in six league matches for Juventus, contributing with a solitary assist. And now, Fagioli is reportedly involved in gambling and has been suspended following his illegal betting activity.
The midfielder has violated the Italian FA rules by admitting his involvement while cooperating with the investigative authority. His legal team is seeking to reduce the ban period by filing a plea with the prosecutor’s office.
Juventus is already in a challenging situation with Paul Pogba banned for doping, and now Fagioli is also facing a similar fate. Last season, they faced a deduction of 15 points in the league table.
Alongside Juventus player Fagioli, his national teammates and renowned figures in Italian football, former AC Milan player Sandro Tonali, and Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zanilo, are also involved.
Tonali and Sandro’s duo, regulars for the national team, are set to miss EURO 2024 due to a possible ban of at least 18 months.
Nicolo Fagioli claims Sandro Tonali set him up on the betting app
The Juventus midfielder admitted to having placed bets on football matches on illegal betting sites using multiple identities. It is believed that his suspension period could be reduced following a plea from his side.
Meanwhile, he claimed that it was Newcastle United player Sandro Tonali who insisted on him placing bets on matches, and Tonali was the one who introduced the application to his fellow Italian teammate.
Nicolo Zaniolo’s case is slightly different. As claimed by the player, he has denied gambling allegations, stating that he had only played Poker and blackjack.
What’s your take on the entire fiasco? Share with us in the comments.
