Sandro Tonali, a Newcastle player, is currently serving a 10-month ban for violating gambling regulations. He has been seen ‘grafting’ in a hard hat and hi-visibility jacket.
Tonali is now serving a 10-month suspension and has not played since October. He only joined Newcastle last summer for £55 million from AC Milan, but the Italian Football Federation issued him a ban shortly afterward.
The FA imposed another two-month punishment on the Italian international last Thursday, but this was deferred for two years.
He has also been fined £20,000 and issued a warning for his behaviour.
This ban will only apply if he violates the FA’s betting rules again. Tonali is permitted to train but cannot compete until next season.
The midfielder appears to be adopting a unique method to filling his time, working alongside Shepherd Offshore engineers. He was spotted wearing a hard hat and a high-visibility jacket on Twitter.
Shepherd Offshore has yet to respond to Tonali’s apparent appearance at its location. Newcastle praised the FA’s decision to merely issue Tonali a suspended ban last week.
“As acknowledged by the FA in the independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons, the level of assistance Sandro has provided by self-referring and fully cooperating with a subsequent investigation is extraordinary and unprecedented,” said a spokesperson.
Sandro Tonali out here doing side quests #NUFC pic.twitter.com/sUUgmCORo3
— Murph (@NUFCMurph) May 7, 2024
“Sandro made complete confessions about his betting behavior in a situation when there was no other evidence to warrant disciplinary actions. Sandro is continuing to pursue a therapeutic and educational program with the club’s full support, and he will continue to train with his teammates.”
Tonali has taken a pay cut while he remains suspended from matches. And Magpies boss Eddie Howe revealed that was a decision that was made by the Italian alone.
“It was something he wanted to do, he felt the guilt… to show the club in good faith that he was sorry. He was determined to put it behind him and try to learn from it,” Howe said last week.
“I see a small fraction of his life time on the training ground. He has been a good professional and trained very well. I am sure he has had some difficult times, but he has conducted himself in a positive way.
“It’s been a huge frustration to have a top quality player that you can’t use. I know what he can do and the difference he’ll have made this year, but it wasn’t to be.”
Leave a Reply