Italy’s football federation said on Saturday that no disciplinary procedure has been opened against Nicolo Zaniolo as part of a betting scandal rocking the game.
“As it stands there is no information or charge that he has gambled on football matches,” the FIGC told AFP.
Aston Villa and Italy attacker Zaniolo was questioned on Friday by prosecutors in Turin as part of a criminal investigation into illegal gambling platforms which has bled into football.
The 24-year-old’s legal team have insisted that he has only ever used illegal sites to play poker and blackjack, an offence for which he will likely have to pay a fine.
Gambling on football is forbidden for footballers in Italy and can lead to hefty bans for those caught by authorities, especially if they have bet on their own teams.
On Thursday, Newcastle star Sandro Tonali – also an Italy international – was banned for 10 months, a suspension which was made worldwide by global governing body FIFA on Friday.
He was the second player banned by the FIGC’s disciplinary tribunal after Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, who was hit with a seven-month suspension earlier this month.
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 6 days agoUruguay end winless run with dramatic late win over Colombia
Manuel Ugarte grabbed a dramatic last-gasp winner as Uruguay ended a five-match winless streak...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 7 days agoArgentina fall in Paraguay, Brazil held in Venezuela
World champions Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat to Paraguay while rivals Brazil were held...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 month agoLenovo become FIFA’s World Cup ‘technology partner’
Chinese technology company Lenovo have signed a sponsorship deal with FIFA that covers the...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 3 months agoVinicius says Spain should lose 2030 World Cup unless racism declines
Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior has called for Spain to be stripped of its 2030...
By AFP