The Milan public prosecutor’s office has acquitted Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Fagioli of the serious charge of match-fixing. However, the duo must answer for advertising illegal betting platforms—but only with a small fine.
In October 2023, a betting scandal rocked Italian soccer. Among others, Sandro Tonali (Newcastle) and Nicolo Fagioli (Florence) were involved. The Italian soccer association FIGC suspended the duo for seven and ten months, respectively, due to their misconduct. Both would have faced a higher penalty if they had not agreed to therapy.
Despite serving their suspensions, the two Italian internationals still had to answer to other authorities. The Milan public prosecutor’s office investigated twelve current and former Italian Serie A players in connection with betting on allegedly illegal platforms. The verdict has now been handed down around two years after the scandal came to light. According to a media report in Gazzetta dello Sport, the public prosecutor’s office initially cleared Tonali and Farioli of the serious charge of match-fixing.
Duo received bonus payments for their advertising
In return, the professionals received an extremely low fine for advertising illegal betting and poker platforms. They “were rewarded by the betting operators with bonus payments to their gaming accounts or a reduction in their betting debts,” investigators said. The two players must pay €250 for the offense. No further criminal proceedings were initiated.