The athletes recently hit the headlines for their alleged involvement in an illegal gambling scandal. Both midfielders, as well as Nicolo Faggioli, a young Juventus player, are under investigation for their involvement in illegal betting.
football federations always take these kinds of allegations seriously. Not only is betting on their matches unethical towards other players but gambling among athletes normalizes betting among football fans. Many of them, equal to their idols, start betting, visiting casinos, or playing live casinos online to get their adrenaline going. That is why it is so important to ban betting among professional athletes.
According to journalists, police arrived at the training camp to question them. As a result, the Football Federation (FIGC) decided to send the players back to Premier League clubs, setting the odds at -1%. This decision means that neither player can represent the Italian national team in the upcoming matches against Malta and England.
To compensate for their absence, head coach Luciano Spalletti has called up Torino’s Samuele Ricci and Roma’s Stephan El Shaarawy as replacements.
The press notes that there are other violators among the famous athletes. Their names will be known soon. The investigation is still ongoing, and the chief prosecutor of Turin, Enrica Gabetta, confirmed that the FIGC had initiated a separate proceeding.
Nicolo Faggioli’s lawyer said that the footballer voluntarily surrendered to the authorities in connection with his alleged involvement in illegal betting. He confessed to the crimes and provided his cell phone as evidence.
While the nature of Faggioli’s gambling activities remains undisclosed, FIGC rules stipulate that any player involved in placing bets on football matches faces a minimum three-year ban and a fine of at least 25,000 euros ($26,520).
In response to the latest developments, lawyer Luca Ferrari, speaking on behalf of Nicolo Zaniolo, said his client remains focused on Juventus and the upcoming season. He confirmed that the athlete is cooperating with the judicial and sporting authorities, as evidenced by his operational actions.
Faggioli has six games under his belt for Juventus this season, making his debut under Max Allegri in the 2022/23 season. In that campaign, he took part in 17 matches, scoring three goals and giving three assists. That said, Sandro Tonali has quickly become an integral player for Newcastle United following his summer move from AC Milan. He has already featured in seven Premier League games and started two matches in the UEFA Champions League.
Meanwhile, Nicolo Zaniolo is currently playing for Aston Villa on loan from Turkish club Galatasaray. Zaniolo has played six matches under head coach Unai Emery.
