Newcastle Star called “stupid” and threatened with a “one-year ban,” saying that betting on football is futile.

Sandro Tonali, a midfielder for Newcastle United, has been called “stupid” for allegedly engaging in illegal gambling when playing for AC Milan.

During the most recent summer transfer window, the Magpies paid over £55 million to acquire the Italy international from Serie A powerhouse AC Milan.

The future of Tonali at Newcastle, a team that is close to the top of the 2023 Premier League net spend table, is now in doubt because of his involvement in an Italian football betting probe.

 

He has recently ‘admitted to betting’ on AC Milan matches during his time with the Italian outfit and this reportedly left Newcastle ‘shocked and surprised’.

Over the weekend, it was revealed by Italian media that the player’s lawyers are set to discuss a ‘plea bargain’ on Monday. It has been suggested that he will be banned for one year and he could learn his fate this week.

Some feel sympathy for Tonali, but West Ham United legend Paolo Di Canio has hit out at the 23-year-old.

“Give me a fixed camera. You are idiots!” Di Canio said via Calciomercato.

“If you bet on football you’re empty, you’re stupid. There’s no need to justify those who bet!”

Tonali was given a positive ovation from Newcastle fans after their 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday night. Head coach Eddie Howe pushed the midfielder to the front during their lap of honour as he wanted his player to “see the love closer up”.

“It sort of came to me when we were doing our walk that I wanted him to be at the front, to see the love closer up,” Howe said.

“A big thank you from me to our supporters today. That reception at the end today was incredible and it was emotional.

“He’s going through an incredibly emotional time and the supporters reacted how I hoped they would. I could feel the love between him and them and that will do him the world of good, he’ll feel much better.

“A big thank you from me to them; we don’t know what the future holds for him.

He continued, “He definitely wanted to play and perform. It was only a matter of introducing him at the appropriate time, and I thought he performed well after he entered the game because I could see from how he trained that he was ready to play football.

 

“Hopefully this will be a step in the right direction for him to move forward in his life.”