BETTING SCANDAL: WHO ARE (FOR NOW) AND WHAT RISKS THE PLAYERS INVOLVED IN THE SCANDAL FACE

In recent days, a new football scandal has emerged: the names of young players accused of betting on illegal platforms have been revealed. 

It all stems from an investigation by the Turin Prosecutor’s Office, which began this summer, into gambling on some websites that did not have a license from the State Monopolies. The Turin prosecutors discovered that among the bettors is Fagioli, a Juventus midfielder, and the news was anticipated by the well-known television personality Fabrizio Corona. 

A few days ago, two other names were revealed: Tonali and Zaniolo. In Coverciano, the two national team players were notified of investigative acts by the Turin Prosecutor’s Office and were forced to leave the national team camp at the request of FIGC. 

This is not the old “match-fixing” scandal, where games were sold and bought, but rather bets and wagers of large sums of money on football match outcomes on illegal sites, suggesting that the protagonists might be true gambling addicts. 

The statements by Fabrizio Corona continue to shake the world of Italian football. In a phone call with a journalist from the Corriere della Sera a few days ago, he declared that he is in possession of a long list, 50 names of players involved in betting episodes. 

The investigation, therefore, seems to be only at the beginning, other declarations are awaited, but in the meantime, the involvement of many players represents a serious threat to the image of Italian football at the international level. 

From a criminal standpoint, if the protagonists are only players and not organizers of the bets, they can settle or pay a fine. From a sports perspective, however, the Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the violation of the ban on betting by registered players, as an athlete, under Article 24 of the Code of Sports Justice, cannot bet on their own discipline and risks up to 3 years of disqualification. 

In the case of Nicolò Fagioli, FIGC has already formalized the measures: 7 months of disqualification (the reduction of the sentence was foreseen for the immediate plea bargain) starting from October 20, in addition to another five months converted into the alternative penalty of a therapeutic rehabilitation path, and the payment of a €12,500 fine for having participated in betting on football matches. 

At the moment, there are no risks for the clubs of the players under investigation. Only if it were proven that the result of a match was manipulated with the collaboration of the managers would sanctions be triggered; the possible failure to report, if the managers were aware, would lead to personal accountability.  By Chiara Arsieni