An ongoing betting scandal involving multiple Italian soccer players has fans gripped. Now, Nicolò Fagioli is the first of those stars to receive a sentencing for his gambling infringements. The Italian soccer federation Federcalcio banned him for seven months on Tuesday, also issuing a €12,500 ($13,200) fine.
cooperated with authorities to mitigate his punishment
The 22-year-old midfielder’s sentencing could have been worse were it not for the plea bargain he struck with officials. He has cooperated with authorities to mitigate his punishment, in addition to visiting a therapist to deal with his gambling problem.
Fagioli has played in six of Juventus’s Serie A matches so far this season. He also made his debut for the Italian national team last November.
The Juventus star is not the only player inculpated. Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo were both sent home from the Italy training camp last week due to the gambling investigation. Tonali became Italy’s most expensive player when he signed for Newcastle United in July, while Zaniolo is on loan at Aston Villa.
Both players are supposedly cooperating with authorities in the investigation. Following in the footsteps of Zaniolo, Tonali is expected to meet with prosecutor Giuseppe Chine soon. As part of his confession, Fagioli claimed Tonali recommended him a betting app for unregulated blackjack gambling.