The midfielder allegedly bet on a Coppa Italia game involving his then Serie A team Roma while he was still on their active player roster. Of the Italian trio facing three-year-minimum bans, Aston Villa’s Zaniolo appears to be in the hottest water. It gets worseĪccording to Football Italia, if the FIGC imposes bans on Tonali and Zaniolo for allegedly betting on Serie A games, FIFA would then extend the ban worldwide. Italy has a long and rich history when it comes to gambling, with games like baccarat and calcio storico having originated in the country. Unlike in England, where the English Football Association banned Toney for eight months, in Italy the minimum penalty for betting on soccer games is three years. In Italy the minimum penalty for betting on soccer games is three years. While the pair will miss Italy’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively, that’s likely the least of their worries right now.Īccording to Football Italia, “all soccer players in Italy are banned from placing bets on any football event” that falls under FIFA, UEFA, or FIGC events.
The Italy pair add to a raft of betting probes, including one that halted the transfer of West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta to Manchester City, and another in which Brentford striker Ivan Toney was fined £50,000 ($61,048) and banned eight months.
