FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Newcastle United Training - Newcastle United Training Centre, Newcastle, Britain - November 6, 2023 Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali during training Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
(Reuters) -Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali was charged by England's FA on Thursday over alleged betting breaches following his move to the Premier League club as he continues to serve a ban for betting on matches in Italy.
The 23-year-old is serving a 10-month ban after being sanctioned by the Italian football federation (FIGC) last October over betting breaches committed when he was playing for Serie A side AC Milan.
The FA said in a statement: "It's alleged that the Newcastle United midfielder breached FA Rule E8 50 times by placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023."
The FA added that Tonali has until April 5 to respond to the misconduct charge.
Newcastle signed Tonali in July last year for a reported fee of 70 million euros ($75.57 million) - making him the most expensive Italian player in history.
But Tonali was told on Oct. 12 that he was involved in an investigation by prosecutors in Italy. He was banned two weeks later, effectively ending his debut season with Newcastle after he made eight league appearances.
Tonali was the highest profile player caught up in a betting scandal that shook Italian soccer last year. His agent had said he was suffering from a gambling addiction.
"Sandro continues to fully comply with relevant investigations and he retains the club's full support," Newcastle said in a statement on Thursday.
Newcastle have struggled without his creativity in midfield and the club, who were in the Champions League group stage earlier this season, sit a lowly 10th in the standings. They host West Ham United on Saturday.
Tonali was the second major player last year to receive a ban for betting on matches after England international Ivan Toney.
The Brentford striker was banned for eight months and fined 50,000 pounds ($63,165) after admitting to 232 breaches of the FA's betting rules.
He returned to action in January and earned a call-up to the England squad earlier this month, scoring on his international return against Belgium on Tuesday.
($1 = 0.9263 euros)($1 = 0.7916 pounds)
(Reporting by Rohith Nair and Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru;Editing by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris)
