Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is expected to be banned from football for 10 months after admitting breaches of betting regulations.
Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina has told Sky Sports Italia the governing body has reached an agreement with the player under which he will be banned for 10 months in addition to eight months of rehabilitation and an obligation to make a series of public appearances.
That would rule the 23-year-old, a £55 million (€63.1m) summer signing from AC Milan, out of the remainder of the Magpies' season and Italy's Euro 2024 finals campaign, should they qualify.
Gravina told reporters: "An agreement has been reached between the federal prosecutor and Sandro Tonali. The plea agreement is for 18 months, of which eight months is for rehabilitation, which involves therapeutic activity and making at least 16 public appearances.
"The 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' collaboration went above and beyond, therefore we must continue to respect the rules we have established for ourselves."
Agent Giuseppe Riso last week issued a statement to say the player was living with a "gambling addition" and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has promised him the club’s full support.
However, an extended absence would deny Newcastle of the services of their big-money summer recruit for a sizeable proportion of his five-year contract and leave them with a major gap to plug at a time when injuries have already depleted Howe’s squad.
Tonali, who has reportedly admitted to gambling on former teams Brescia and Milan to win during his time with them, has made 12 appearances for the club since his arrival, but it remains to be seen if the latest is his last for some time.
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