Sandro Tonali agrees 10-month ban from football but can play tonight

10/25/2023 Soccer

Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali agrees to 10-month ban from football over illegal betting – but he CAN play in the Champions League tonight as final details are worked out

  • Sandro Tonali is expected to be available to face Borussia Dortmund tonight
  • The Champions League tie could be his final appearance before a suspension
  • Follow Mail Sport’s new Champions League WhatsApp channel for all the breaking news

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is set to miss the next 10 months with Italian authorities ready to confirm his ban for illegal betting.

The player’s lawyers have been negotiating with prosecutors and the football federation and an agreement is close.

However, it is not likely to arrive officially before Wednesday night’s Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park and Tonali will be available to Eddie Howe. Any suspension is only effective from the following day. 

It is thought UEFA did not want him to feature but were powerless without conformation of the ban from Italy.

Crucially, for Tonali and Newcastle, he will be free to train with the team during his suspension, which is set to run until late August of next year. He will miss Euro 2024 and the early weeks of the Premier League season.

An agreement has been reached for Newcastle star Sandro Tonali to serve a 10-month ban

Tonali is expected to be available to Eddie Howe for Newcastle’s match against Dortmund

Tonali is expected to be able to train with Newcastle throughout the duration of his suspension 

Newcastle are yet to comment on reports in Italy of a clause that exists in the 23-year-old’s contract which means they do not have to pay him during the ban. 

However, the club are assessing all legal options and their lawyers will be exploring if they have a case for compensation, given they paid Milan £52million for a player who had already committed betting offences, including gambling on his own teams to win matches.

Tonali’s suspension is also set to include eight months of therapy and his participation in anti-gambling initiatives.

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