The betting scandal that shakes Italian football
The concentration of the Italian team was disturbed on Thursday by the presence of police to interrogate Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, within the framework of a betting investigation that threatens to unleash another storm in Calcio. Both internationals denied having bet on football matches, only on “poker and blackjack”, according to the newspaper La Repubblica.
By agreeing to end his sabbatical season to succeed Roberto Mancini in August, Luciano Spalletti would probably contemplate several scenarios, but in none of them would he see himself in the current situation.. On Thursday afternoon, just after the training session, several police officers showed up at the national center in Coverciano, near Florence.
Sent by the Turin Prosecutor's Office, investigators notified Tonali, 24, and Zaniolo, 23, that they were being investigated for illicit sports betting.. Accompanied by Gianluigi Buffon, the new head of the Italian delegation, the two Nazionale players were taken to a room at the training center, where they were interrogated for two hours.
Seized phones
Both allegedly used clandestine sports betting platforms, something prohibited by article 24 of the sports justice code of the Italian Federation (FIGC).. One of them would have even bet on a match for his team in which he was a substitute.
After having their mobile phones seized and testifying before investigators, Tonali, transferred from Milan to Newcastle last summer, and Zaniolo, who joined Aston Villa in July from Roma, left the training camp.. “They are not in a position to face the commitments of the coming days,” the FIGC announced in a statement.
According to La Repubblica, the list of those involved could be expanded in the coming days, until reaching ten footballers.. In fact, Dillinger news has already reported the involvement of Roma's Polish full-back, Nicola Zalewski, although at the moment there is no official confirmation.
The Fagioli precedent
Still shocked by the situation, his teammates, joined on Friday by Roma striker Stephan El Shaarawy, continued their preparation for the match against Malta on Saturday in Bari and for the summit match against England on Tuesday at Wembley , a reissue of the Euro 2021 final, won by the Nazionale in the penalty shootout in that same stadium.
“The night was difficult,” Spalletti admitted on Sky Sport.. “Everyone appreciates them although Justice must do its job,” he added.. The case became public on Wednesday when the FIGC announced that it had opened an investigation in August against Nicolo Fagioli, a promising Juventus midfielder.
Fagioli, 21, is also suspected of having placed bets on clandestine platforms, which exposes him to a three-year suspension and a fine of 25,000 euros.. His lawyers revealed that he himself went to the authorities, showing “concern for maximum transparency and cooperation with sports and ordinary justice.”
“A social pathology”
But the truth is that his name had been circulating for several days on social networks since the revelations of the controversial Fabrizio Corona. The former king of the paparazzi, imprisoned for 10 years for extortion, among others of David Trézéguet, has spread information about the alleged addiction of some footballers to betting. “Fagioli is not the only one,” he warned, pointing to other Serie A players, including one from Roma.
In a country that is repeatedly shaken by scandals, concern over these revelations has reached the Government of Giorgia Meloni. “Gaming addiction is not a football problem but a social pathology,” said Andrea Abodi, Minister of Sports.