Because of his gambling addiction, the punished midfielder Nicoló Fagioli from Juventus accumulated debts of three million euros (74 million crowns). He confessed to this, according to Italian media, during an investigation by the Turin prosecutor. On Tuesday, the 22-year-old representative received a seven-month suspension, a five-month probation, a fine and the obligation to undergo group therapy.
“The debts kept increasing. They even threatened me because of it, and at night I only thought about betting more and more to pay off the debts,” La Repubblica quoted Fagioli as saying. At his mother’s insistence, he was treated for gambling addiction, but to no avail. He bet on illegal betting platforms.
He went through the worst period last year in March and April. At the time, Fagioli was pictured crying on the bench after being substituted following a mistake against Sassuolo. “I was thinking about my gambling debts,” he told investigators, according to the press.
On Instagram today, the promising Italian midfielder commented publicly on the case for the first time. “I thought I would start by apologizing not only to Juventus fans, but to all football and sports fans in the world for the stupid mistake I made,” he said. “But instead I have to start with the nonsense and lies that the newspapers write about me to portray me in a bad light, or rather to get more clicks. I will speak soon,” Fagioli wrote.
Nicoló Fagioli after 7 months ban: “I thought to start apologising to Juventus fans and all the football fans around the world after my mistake…
…but I’m shocked by fake stories on the newspapers — full of fake details just to put me in a bad light. I’ll clarify soon”. pic.twitter.com/E4Q5pkhx0e
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 18, 2023
Fagioli received a fine of 12,500 euros (over 300,000 crowns) along with a ban on activities and a condition. He won the Italian league, cup and super cup with Juventus. In the past season, he was named the best young player of Serie A, he played once for the national team. He admitted to breaking the rules, but said he did not bet on his own team’s match.
Two other Italian representatives are also involved in the scandal. Midfielders Nicoló Zaniolo of Aston Villa and Sandro Tonali of Newcastle had to leave the national team meeting on Thursday due to investigations. According to the media, he too faces a sentence of several months.
Tonali also faces a sentence of several months because, according to ANSA sources, he admitted to criminal and sports investigators that he also bet on the matches of his then-club AC Milan. His current employer Newcastle said the player was fully cooperating with the investigation and expressed their support.
2023-10-19 09:22:30
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