Under investigation
AC Milan defender Alessandro Florenzi is the latest soccer player to be investigated over alleged illegal gambling claims.
The Italian Prosecutor’s Office and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) have informed Florenzi that he is under formal investigation. However, rather than betting on football matches, the defender, who counts Roma, PSG, and Valencia as his former clubs, is under investigation for betting on online games.
if found guilty, Florenzi is likely to face a fine
While online betting isn’t considered serious, it’s still against the rules for soccer players to bet on anything. If found guilty, Florenzi is likely to face a fine.
He will meet with investigators over the next few days to give his version of events.
Other players investigated
The news of the investigation into the AC Milan defender comes a month after several other soccer players were investigated over alleged illegal gambling.
In October, Juventus soccer star Nicolò Fagioli was handed a seven-month ban by the Italian soccer federation Federcalcio after his gambling infringements. He was also issued a €12,500 ($13,200) fine. Due to his cooperation with officials and allegedly turning himself in for illegal online betting his punishment was reduced.
Elsewhere, two of Italy’s national soccer team players – Sandro Tonali, who plays for Newcastle United, and Nicolo Zaniolo, who plays for Aston Villa – were sent home from the Italy training camp in October following a gambling investigation.
in Italy, the minimum penalty for betting on soccer games is three years
The two are alleged to have made bets when they were still in Italy playing for AC Milan and AFC Roma, respectively. In Italy, the minimum penalty for betting on soccer games is three years. Of the three, Zaniolo appears to be in the worst trouble as he’s alleged to have bet on a Coppa Italia game involving his then Serie A team Roma while he was still on their active player roster.
Tonali has since received a ten-month ban. Zaniolo is seeking a full acquittal as he claims he only placed bets on online poker and blackjack games, which are not prohibited by the Sports Justice Code.
FA suspends Toney
In May, the English Football Association (FA) banned Ivan Toney for eight months for violating its gambling policy.
The ban for the Brentford striker was put into place after he was charged with 262 breaches of the gambling rules between February 2017 and January 2021. He later had 30 expunged. The suspension ends on January 16, 2024
Officially diagnosed with a gambling addiction, Toney is reported to have bet 13 times that his team would lose. According to the FA, though, Toney wasn’t in a position to influence his team to lose as he wasn’t on the squad or eligible to play at the time.