AC Milan defender Alessandro Florenzi has become the latest footballer to be investigated over allegations of illegal gambling. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
under investigation
AC Milan defender Alessandro Florenzi has become the latest footballer to be investigated over allegations of illegal gambling.
The Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Italian Football Federation informed Florenzi that he was the subject of an official investigation. However, instead of betting on football matches, the defender, who counts Roma, Paris Saint-Germain and Valencia as his former clubs, is under investigation for betting on online games.
If found guilty, Florenzi will likely face a fine
Although online betting is not considered serious, betting on anything is still against the rules for football players. If convicted, Florenzi will likely face a fine.
He will meet with investigators over the next few days to provide his version of events.
Other players were investigated
News of the investigation into the Milan defender comes a month after several other footballers were investigated over alleged illegal gambling.
In October, Juventus football star Nicolo Fagioli was banned for seven months by the Italian Football Federation, following gambling offences. He was also sentenced to a fine of 12,500 euros ($13,200). Due to his cooperation with officials and allegedly turning himself in for illegal online betting, his sentence was reduced.
Elsewhere, two Italian national football team players – Sandro Tonali, who plays for Newcastle United, and Nicolo Zaniolo, who plays for Aston Villa – were sent home from Italy’s training camp in October following a gambling investigation.
In Italy, the minimum penalty for betting on football matches is three years
The two allegedly made the bets while they were still in Italy playing for Milan and Roma respectively. In Italy, the minimum penalty for betting on football matches is three years. Of the three, Zaniolo appears to be in the worst trouble as he allegedly bet on a Coppa Italia match involving his then Serie A team Roma while he was still on the active roster.
Since then, Tonali has received a ten-month ban. Zaniolo is seeking full acquittal because he claims he only bet on online poker and blackjack games, which are not prohibited by the Sports Fairness Act.
The FA suspends Tony
In May, the FA banned Ivan Toney for eight months for breaching its gambling policy.
The ban was imposed on the Brentford striker after he was charged with 262 breaches of gambling rules between February 2017 and January 2021. 30 breaches were subsequently struck off. The suspension expires on January 16, 2024
Tony was officially diagnosed as a gambling addict, and was reported to have bet 13 times that his team would lose. According to the FA, Toney was not in a position to influence his team to lose because he was not in the squad or eligible to play at the time.
