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Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali deserves \u201cempathy and support\u201d for his gambling rather than a reported 10-month ban, campaigners have said.<\/p>\n
The Big Step campaign, part of the Gambling With Lives charity, claims asking a footballer who is addicted to gambling to play in stadiums plastered in betting logos is akin to making an alcoholic work in a pub.<\/p>\n
Italian football federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina said on Thursday the 23-year-old had been suspended for 10 months and ordered to undertake a further eight-month rehabilitation programme, according to reports in Italy.<\/p>\n
The player\u2019s agent, Giuseppe Riso, has said his client is living with a gambling addiction. The PFA is understood to be working with and continuing to support Tonali.<\/p>\n
\u201cFootballers are human and if they are suffering from addiction they deserve empathy and support, not lengthy bans,\u201d the Big Step said in a statement issued to the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery football game is wall-to-wall with gambling ads, not just across shirts but around stadiums and related media content.<\/p>\n
\u201cSending someone addicted to gambling into this environment is like sending an alcoholic to work in a pub. If you force young footballers to endorse addictive products then don\u2019t be surprised if they use them.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnding all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football, including all parts of the shirt and in every stadium, will help to prevent harm to those on and off the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gravina told reporters: \u201cAn agreement has been reached between the federal prosecutor and Sandro Tonali.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plea agreement is for 18 months, of which eight months is for rehabilitation, which involves therapeutic activity and making at least 16 public appearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rules call for a certain number of years of suspension, but the plea bargain and extenuating circumstances have been taken into consideration and the players\u2019 collaboration went above and beyond, therefore we must continue to respect the rules we have established for ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tonali was one of several players named in the FIGC\u2019s investigation, which also saw Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli banned for seven months.<\/p>\n