Before European Championship qualification
Who else? Betting scandal rocks Italian football
Italy’s Nicolò Zaniolo (l) is being investigated on suspicion of illegal betting. photo
© Luca Bruno/AP/dpa
The fact that Italy is once again worried about a tournament ticket is no longer the most important thing before the classic against England. A betting scandal roils the nation.
Because although the Squadra Azzurra still has to worry about the ticket for the 2024 tournament in Germany before the classic against England in the European Championship qualifiers, the nation is preoccupied with completely different things. A betting scandal is also shaking the national team – and could even spread.
Three youngsters under suspicion
No fewer than three young Azzurri stars are suspected of being involved in illegal online sports betting. On Tuesday evening, shortly after the new edition of the European Championship final between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium (8.45 p.m./DAZN), the names of other footballers involved in the scandal will be mentioned.
This was announced by the former celebrity photographer Fabrizio Corona, who brought the scandal to light. The 49-year-old was just released from seven years in prison, including for extortion. He now runs an Internet portal called Dillinger, named after the US bank robber John Dillinger (“Public Enemy No. 1”).
After Corona’s latest announcement, not only is there great unrest, but so are expectations. Because the matter already meets all the conditions to permanently shake Italy’s affair-plagued football.
Juve’s Fagioli as a central figure
The central figure in the betting scandal so far is Nicolò Fagioli, midfielder from Juventus Turin. The 22-year-old is considered a great talent and has already played for the national team. Fagioli is said to have gambled away more than a million euros in sports betting on the Internet. Apparently several teammates at Juve knew about his problems. The European champion and current Union Berlin player Leonardo Bonucci was captain there.
According to Italian media reports, Fagioli has now confessed and is cooperating with the investigating public prosecutor’s office in Turin in order to obtain a lower sentence for himself. However, he denies having bet on his own team’s games.
Gambling is generally allowed in Italy, but not on illegal online platforms. Players are also not allowed to bet on sports in which they are active. If they are caught, they face fines and at least a three-year ban, which is valid internationally. For Fagioli, this could mean that the career he has just begun is over early. But nothing has been proven yet and no one has been convicted.
In the meantime, the affair has affected two other young stars of the national team: Sandro Tonali (23) and Nicolò Zaniolo (24), both of whom are under contract in the English Premier League. Tonali only moved from AC Milan to Newcastle United in the summer for an estimated 80 million euros, Zaniolo plays at Aston Villa.
Cell phones and tablets confiscated
After Corona made their names public last week, the association immediately sent them home from the training camp for the European Championship qualification. Investigators confiscated cell phones and tablets. They were then able to watch their colleagues’ 4-0 victory over Malta from their adopted English hometown.
The Tonali case in particular is now being followed intensively. For many in Italy he was seen as a possible successor to the legendary strategist Andrea Pirlo. According to a report in the newspaper “La Repubblica”, Tonali has now also confessed and is ready to cooperate with the public prosecutor’s office. His lawyers said he was “devastated”. For him too, it’s about the duration of a possible ban.
Big step towards EM possible
In terms of sport, Italy can take a big step towards the European Championship 2024 in Germany with a win against England after the 1-2 home defeat in March. The Azzurri are second in the table ahead of Ukraine, who have the same points, but have played one game less. The first two teams buy the ticket straight away, new national coach Luciano Spalletti and his team want to avoid the arduous detour via the playoffs at all costs.
A defeat would put the 2021 European champions under even greater pressure ahead of crucial games against North Macedonia and Ukraine in November. Given the situation, none of the three young stars will be there.
Information about the European Championship qualification Instagram post Fabrizio Corona Announcement from the Italian association on the rejection of Tonali and Zaniolo