The players were questioned by the Italian Police on Thursday in Coverciano (Florence, north), after Italy's training session. Both denied betting on football matches.
Italian players Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, players of Aston Villa and Newcastle respectively, admitted to gambling but denied betting on football matches in the framework of the 'Betting Case' being investigated by the Turin Prosecutor's Office, which led them to leave the Italian national team camp.
The players were questioned by the Italian Police on Thursday in Coverciano (Florence, north), after Italy's training session. Both denied betting on football matches, only on "poker and blackjack," as reported on Friday by the newspaper 'La Repubblica'.
They also did not deny being friends with their compatriot Nicolo Fagioli, a player for Juventus who was the first football player to appear in the investigation conducted by the Turin Prosecutor's Office for several months regarding illegal betting on unlicensed online sites.
The same newspaper reported that the list of players does not end with those three names and that for now, as it could expand in the coming days, there are ten footballers involved.
In fact, the Italian media 'Dillinger news', which on Thursday revealed that Zaniolo and Tonali were involved, today stated that the fourth player involved is Polish Nicola Zalewski, a winger for Roma, although at the moment there is no official confirmation that the young player is involved.
After the questioning of Zaniolo and Tonali, the police seized the mobile phones of both individuals to review all the messages and clarify if they bet on football matches.
On the contrary, Fagioli would have admitted to betting on football, according to local media, but the fact that he self-denounced to the sports justice, as revealed by the player's lawyers, could reduce the sanctions for him.
Because gambling in Italy is allowed, but not for those associated with the Italian Football Federation, who in this case are subject to their own Sports Code.
In this specific case, article 24 states that "subjects of the federation regime, managers, members and club cardholders belonging to the professional sector are prohibited from making or accepting bets, directly or indirectly, even by persons authorized to receive them, related to the results of official matches organized within the framework of FIGC, FIFA, and UEFA," according to the mentioned article.
The punishment, if this type of offense is confirmed, could result in a minimum of 3 years suspension and a minimum fine of 25,000 euros.
The Turin Prosecutor's Office unexpectedly reached the names of the players while investigating a network of bets on illegal sites in which organized crime in Italy could be involved.
"Subjects of the federation regime, managers, members and club cardholders belonging to the professional sector are prohibited from making or accepting bets, directly or indirectly, even by persons authorized to receive them, related to the results of official matches organized within the framework of FIGC, FIFA, and UEFA", according to the mentioned article.
The punishment, if this type of offense is confirmed, could result in a minimum of 3 years suspension and a minimum fine of 25,000 euros.
The Turin Prosecutor's Office unexpectedly reached the names of the players while investigating a network of bets on illegal sites in which organized crime in Italy could be involved.