- Title: Tonali and Zaniolo leave Italy squad over police investigation
- Date: 12th October 2023
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (OCTOBER 12, 2023) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, WANG WENBIN, WALKING IN FOR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, WANG WENBIN, SAYING: "We learnt that three Chinese citizens have been confirmed to have died in the conflict. Two people are missing and several people were injured. W
- Embargoed: 26th October 2023 19:28
- Keywords: FIGC Italian Soccer Federation Nicolo Zaniolo Sandro Tonali betting gambling illegal betting
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA004949112102023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Italian soccer team players Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo are under criminal investigation, the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) said on Thursday (October 12).
The players were notified of the investigation by Turin prosecutors while at the Azzurri's training centre in Coverciano, ahead of European Championship qualifiers against Malta and England.
The FIGC did not specify what Tonali and Zaniolo are accused of, but said that they were allowed to go home as the federation believed they were not in the right state to face upcoming matches.
Turin prosecutors are investigating another Italian footballer, Nicolo Fagioli, for alleged illegal betting activities.
Fagioli is facing a parallel investigation from FIGC prosecutors to determine whether his alleged gambling involved soccer games.
A player found to have bet on soccer matches risks being banned for at least three years and fined at least 25,000 euros ($26,520) under the FIGC's code of conduct.
Tonali and Zaniolo were served with investigation notices after gossip journalist Fabrizio Corona accused them earlier in the day of gambling.
Corona made similar allegations against Fagioli in August.
Tonali and Zaniolo both play in Britain's Premier League.
This summer the 23-year-old Tonali joined Newcastle United from AC Milan, while Aston Villa signed Zaniolo, 24, on loan from Galasataray.
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