Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali will serve a ten-month ban for breaching Italian betting regulations.
The 23-year-old's campaign is therefore over, and he will play no part at Euro 2024 next summer should Italy qualify, with Tonali available again towards the end of August next season.
As part of an agreement reached with the Italian football federation (FIGC), Tonali will also have to follow an eight-month rehabilitation program.
“The FIGC Prosecutor and Tonali have reached an agreement which I have already approved,” FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said.
“The agreement consists of a 10-month ban plus eight months of rehab activities and at least 16 public appearances.”
The Italian admitted to betting on football matches, which reportedly included some AC Milan games while he was still at the club before his £55m move to Newcastle over the summer. It is claimed that bets on Milan matches were on the team to win, so there was no suggestion of match-fixing.
Tonali could have been handed a ban of up to three years, but a plea bargain was negotiated.
He was withdrawn from international duty earlier this month as it emerged he was being investigated by the Italian Prosecutor's Office and the FIGC, with it swiftly becoming apparent that he was set to face a lengthy ban.
After being interrogated in Turin, Tonali returned to Newcastle and featured off the bench against Crystal Palace in the Premier League and then again on Wednesday night as the Magpies fell to a Champions League defeat against Borussia Dortmund. That has proved to be his final appearance of the season.
Speaking after Tonali's role in the investigation was confirmed, the midfielder's agent confirmed that the Newcastle star was battling a gambling addiction.
"He is playing his most important game - against betting addiction," Giuseppe Riso said.
"He’s in shock, he’s very sad. He has to face this situation."
