Italian Soccer Superstar Sandro Tonali Thrown Under The Bus By Teammate In Betting Scandal

Italian soccer star Sandro Tonali may have a few choice words for national team teammate Nicolo Fagioli next time the two see one another after Fagioli appears to have ratted him out.

Tonali, who now played for Premier League side Newcastle, and Fagioli are two of several players being investigated for a betting scandal across Italy’s Serie A.

The 23-year-old played for Serie A giants AC Milan from 2021-2023.

Sandro Tonali Removed From Italian National Team Over Betting Investigation

Both Tonali and Fagioli, as well as Aston Villa player Nicolo Zaniolo, were removed for the Italian national team’s recent training camp prior to 2024 European Championship qualifying matches against Malta and England.

“The Federation informs that, late this afternoon, the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office notified investigation files to the players Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, currently training with the national team at the Federal Technical Centre of Coverciano,” a statement from the Italian Football Federation read.

“Regardless of the nature of the acts, considering that in this situation the two players are not in the necessary conditions to face the commitments scheduled in the coming days, the Federation has decided, also to protect them, to allow them to return to their activities in their respective clubs.”

Fagioli now claims that it was Tonali who set him up on the betting app according to Italian daily newspaper Il Mattino.

None of the players have been formally charged. And there’s been no talk of what the potential punishment would be should the players be found have violated any rules.

But both Tonali and Zaniolo left Serie A for England over the summer. And they may well have done so with the knowledge of what coming.

Italian soccer is no stranger to betting scandals.

Legendary club Juventus was relegated to Serie B in 2007 after a league-wide match-fixing scandal was uncovered.