Sandro Tonali is set to make his competitive return to football after serving his ban from football over betting on teams he played for. 

The Italy international received a sanction from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following an investigation into a betting probe, which led to a 10-month ban as well as eight months of rehabilitation. 

While in May this year, the English Football Association (FA) sanctioned Tonali after he was found guilty of 50 breaches of the FA’s betting rules, handing him a suspended two-month suspension, which will be in force throughout the 2024-25 season, and a £20,000 fine ($25,721.10). 

As that suspension was suspended, the Newcastle United midfielder can now return to competitive action in less than two weeks and won’t serve any part of the two-month sanction so long as he does not commit any further breach of the FA’s betting rules. 

As a result, Tonali, depending on the date of Newcastle’s Carabao Cup tie, could return against Nottingham Forest, or if that is on Tuesday 27th August, then will be available for their Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur. 

In an official statement on the Magpies website, it read: “Newcastle United can announce that Sandro Tonali will return to selection on Wednesday 28th August 2024 following the conclusion of his ten-month ban from competitive football. 

“The club has received formal confirmation from the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) that the player’s sporting sanction will run up to and including Tuesday 27th August. 

“The Magpies will travel to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup second round during the week commencing Monday 26th August (fixture date and time TBC), before hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at St. James’ Park on Sunday 1st September (kick-off 1:30pm BST).”