An analysis of Sandro Tonali's FA Betting Rules breach case & key takeaways for players

Following Sandro Tonali’s club transfer record-breaking move from AC Milan to Newcastle in July 2023, it was announced in October of the same year that the midfielder had been suspended from competitive football worldwide for 10 months (“the Existing Suspension”) following reaching an agreement with the Italian Football Federation^[1] for bets placed during Mr Tonali’s tenure as an AC Milan player.

The saga did not end there; in March 2024, the FA charged Mr Tonali with breaches of FA Rule E8 on 50 different occasions in respect of bets placed between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023^[2].

It is reported that Mr Tonali admitted the alleged breaches in his written reply to the charges in April 2024, and requested a hearing to determine the sanction, which was held during the same month. The recently published decision raises interesting points around aggravating and mitigating factors (including self-referral) and the impact of the Existing Suspension on the sanction. 

Ultimately, Mr Tonali was fined £20,000, and was handed a suspension from all football related activities for a period of two months. The sanction is to be suspended until the end of the 2024/2025 football season, such that if Mr Tonali commits a further breach of the FA Betting Rules before that date, he will be suspended for a period of two months in addition to any separate penalty imposed for any further breach. 

The decision can be read here.

This article examines how does The FA’s sanction compares to previous decisions:

• Types of bets placed
• Mitigating/aggravating factors
• Suspended sanctions
• Concealment and lack of co-operation
• Conclusion