Deputy Premir and Transport Minister
Matteo Salvini's rightwing League party on Wednesday called for
the head of Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) President Gabriele
Gravina saying a revolution was needed in Italian football amid
bad results and a betting scandal, among other things.
Speaking a day after Italy lost 3-1 to England at Wembley
meaning they have to beat North Macedonia and Ukraine to qualify
for Euro 2024, and amid a betting probe that has so far
implicated Juve's Nicolò Fagioli, Newcastle's Sandro Tonali,
Aston Villa's Niccolò Zaniolo and Roma's Nicola Zalewski, the
League said: "In the light of what has happened and is emerging
in Italian football between betting, doping, sporting failures,
infrastructural and television problems, and economic crises:
what more needs to happen to revolutionise the leadership of the
movement?
"A radical change, starting with the resignation of President
Gravina, is increasingly necessary out of respect for millions
of fans and in particular the youngest ones."
Fagiolo was banned from soccer for seven months after admitting
betting on soccer matches, the Italian soccer federation's
(FIGC) prosecutor ruled Tuesday.
Fagioli, 22, was served an initial 12 month ban but five of
these were then commuted to alternative sanctions like touring
schools to recount his problems and warn students from emulating
them.
He has also been fined 12,500 euros.
Piacenza born Fagioli was found guilty of breaking article 24 of
the Italian soccer code which prohibits betting on football
events organized by the FIGC, UEFA and FIFA.
Sandro Tonali's agent said Tuesday that the Italy and Newcastle
United midfielder was battling to overcome his problem gambling.
Tonali has been named in a probe into the use of illegal betting
channels along with Juventus midfielder Fagioli and Aston Villa
attacking midfielder Niccolò Zaniolo.
Sporting prosecutors are also looking into the case as
professional footballers are not allowed to bet on soccer
matches.
Tonali and Zaniolo were last week sent home from Italy's
training camp for Saturday's 4-0 win over Malta and Tuesday's
3-1 defeat at Wembley against England in the Euro 2024
qualifiers.
Roma's Poland left-back Nicola Zalewski has also been named by
disgraced former paparazzo to the stars Fabrizio Corona, who
says he has 50 other names to reveal.
The Polish youngster is not under investigation.
"It's very important that these kids don't feel alone right
now," said Tonali's agent Giuseppe Riso at a conference at the
Italian embassy in London.
"Sandro is now playing a more important game, against gambling.
"He has accustomed us to great performances and I am sure he
will win this match.
"He has understood that he has to face his problem in a
determined way and he has already embarked on an important
journey".
Tonali was quizzed by police in Turin Tuesday evening.
Gambling addiction is a plague and the Italy players who have
allegedly been hit by it will not be abandoned, Gravina said
Tuesday.
"Those who made a mistake will have to pay, and we will do
everything possible to get a verdict as quickly as possible.
But, beyond the individual error, we will never abandon the
players involved. They will pay if they made a mistake but then
we will help them," said Gravina on the betting affair, as a
guest of the Italian Embassy in London.
"In Italy there are one and a half million gamblers.
"And there is a contradiction: on the one hand, the state earns
about 16 billion euros from gambling, while we find ourselves
having to convince young people not to gamble."
There have also been some cases of doping in Italian soccer,
most at a minor level, recently.
photo: Gravina
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