Tonali ‘happy for helping other players deal with betting problems’

Sandro Tonali expressed gratitude that his 10-month ban for illegal betting has helped others confront their gambling problems. The 24-year-old Newcastle midfielder, who was banned by the Italian Football Federation in October after admitting to multiple betting violations during his career, is set to make his return in Newcastle’s League Cup second-round match against Nottingham Forest.

“I’m feeling good now.” ❤️

We sat down with Sandro Tonali ahead of his return to action tomorrow evening 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/bIqwJAcoTW

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 27, 2024

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Reflecting on his journey, Tonali noted how his public ordeal encouraged others to seek help. “Especially in the first three months, I met many people, particularly in Newcastle, who had this problem and who had never spoken up before,” Tonali said in an interview with the club’s TV channel. “They came forward when everything was revealed, and my issue became public, prompting them to seek help and stop making things worse. This made me very happy. These people received help just by talking, initially through conversations, but then in many other ways. The first step, the biggest step, is to be able to talk about what’s inside you, something you’ve never done before and didn’t have the courage to do.”

During his suspension, Tonali focused on rehabilitation, including completing an educational program and making 16 trips to Italy to speak with young players about gambling risks. Now back in action, he feels supported by his manager Eddie Howe, teammates, and fans, and is eager to repay their faith on the field.

“I’m happy because this is the first time after 10, 11 months, and I feel good because I know the team was with me, and the fans were with me—I was never alone during these 10 months. It was very, very difficult in October, November, and December, the first three months, but now I feel it’s time for a new beginning. Ten months is a long time, especially for a footballer; it was tough. But I kept working, training every day, even more than when I was playing,” Tonali added.