Overview

• Newcastle United's star midfielder, Sandro Tonali, recently banned for 10 months due to illegal betting, is part of a broader football gambling scandal involving high-profile players.
• Other players implicated include Nicolo Fagioli, who is serving a seven-month ban for using illegal betting platforms, and Nicolo Zaniolo, accused of illegal betting while playing at Roma, though he denies these charges.
• Crucially, several football organizations, including Newcastle and Juventus, have signed various sponsorship deals with betting companies, further cultivating a widespread gambling culture.
• Football's association with gambling is perceived as hypocritical, with critics arguing it contributes to players' vulnerability to gambling addiction.
• The entire scenario underscores the need for intensive review of gambling sponsorship and advertising in football, increased support systems for players, and more proactive preventative measures against gambling addiction.