Sandro Tonali Faces 50 Charges of Violating FA Betting Regulations in Current Season

Sandro Tonali, a midfielder for Newcastle United, has been charged with 50 counts of breaking the Football Association’s (FA) betting rules during the current season.

The charges were announced on March 28, 2024, and relate to misconduct involving bets placed on football games during the start of the season, between August 12 and the present.

The FA has revealed that Tonali is facing these charges, which could result in further punishment if he is found to have breached the rules.

If found guilty, Tonali could face a maximum suspension of 36 months, as per the FA’s guidelines

The FA’s disciplinary process involves the collection of evidence, the issuance of a charge, and the appointment of a regulatory commission to hear the case.

The FA has the authority to request video and/or DVD evidence to assist in investigating possible misconduct, and clubs must deliver such evidence as soon as reasonably practicable.

The decision to bring a charge is made by the Chief Regulatory Officer on behalf of the FA, and the charge must state the nature of the alleged misconduct, the provision(s) alleged to have been breached, a statement of facts, and copies of documents or other material referred to in the charge.

Tonali is currently serving a 10-month ban for breaking gambling rules in Italy, which has also ruled him out for much of the current season.

His agent, Giuseppe Riso, has claimed that Tonali suffers from a “gambling addiction”.

The FA has given Tonali until April 5 to respond to the charges.

Newcastle United has acknowledged the charges and stated that Tonali continues to “fully comply with relevant investigations and he retains the club’s full support”.

what is the history of fa betting rules

The Football Association (FA) has a long-standing history of enforcing strict betting rules to maintain the integrity of the sport.

The FA Betting Rules are set out at section E8 of The FA Handbook and cover all “Participants” involved in professional football, with separate rules for those involved in football below Step 4 or at a Club in Steps 3-7 of the Women’s Football Pyramid.

The main rule is E8(1), which states that a Participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause, or enable any person to bet on the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition, or any other matter concerning or related to football anywhere in the world.

The FA has been cracking down on betting-related misconduct in recent years. In 2014, the FA introduced a worldwide betting ban on players in England, covering any matches or competitions that take place anywhere in the world, as well as betting on any other football-related matter, such as transfers, employment of managers, or team selection.

This ban applies to all professional players in English football, including those in the top eight tiers of the English league system.

The FA has the power to interview Participants and request evidence such as itemised phone bills, betting account statements, and bank statements to investigate potential breaches of the betting rules.

The FA also has systems in place to monitor and detect breaches of the betting rules, with the Gambling Commission and betting companies providing information on suspicious activity.

In recent cases, players such as Ivan Toney have faced charges for breaching the FA’s betting rules. Toney was charged with 232 alleged breaches of the rules between February 2017 and January 2021.

The FA’s disciplinary process involves the collection of evidence, the issuance of a charge, and the appointment of a regulatory commission to hear the case.

The decision to bring a charge is made by the Chief Regulatory Officer on behalf of the FA, and the charge must state the nature of the alleged misconduct, the provision(s) alleged to have been breached, a statement of facts, and copies of documents or other material referred to in the charge.

In summary, the FA has a long history of enforcing strict betting rules to maintain the integrity of the sport.

The FA Betting Rules cover all Participants involved in professional football and prohibit betting on football matches or any other matter concerning or related to football anywhere in the world.

The FA has the power to investigate potential breaches of the rules and has introduced a worldwide betting ban on players in English football.

what is the penalty for violating fa betting rules

The penalty for violating the Football Association (FA) betting rules can vary depending on the severity of the breach. The FA has a set of guidelines for the Regulatory Commission to consider when determining the sanctions for a breach of the FA Betting Rules.

The guidelines provide for six categories of bets, ranging from minor offenses to the most serious offenses, such as placing bets in respect of a particular occurrence involving the player who placed the bet.

The Regulatory Commission places significant weight on the type of bet placed and considers any mitigating or aggravating factors.

For example, in the case of Sandro Tonali, he was sanctioned with a 10-month playing ban by the Italian Football Federation and has now been imposed worldwide by FIFA.

Ivan Toney, another player who breached the FA betting rules, was suspended for eight months in May 2023 after admitting to 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules.

The penalties for violating the FA betting rules can include financial penalties, suspensions, and in some instances, lifetime bans.

The FA has the power to interview Participants and request evidence such as itemised phone bills, betting account statements, and bank statements to investigate potential breaches of the rules.

The FA also has systems in place to monitor and detect breaches of the betting rules, with the Gambling Commission and betting companies providing information on suspicious activity

In conclusion, the penalty for violating the FA betting rules can range from minor financial penalties to lengthy suspensions or even lifetime bans, depending on the severity of the breach and the factors considered by the Regulatory Commission. The FA takes a zero-tolerance approach to betting-related misconduct and has strict guidelines in place to maintain the integrity of the sport.