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At least 12 Serie A Players are currently investigating in a new investigation that has illegally wagered on sports other than soccer, according to Weston McKennie, an American star, including Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera. The event occurred before 2023, before Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonari and Fiorentina player Nicolo Fagiori offered a halt for illegal bets. According to investigators in Milan, the two players acted as gambler collectors and were “rewarded with bonuses from the gaming account.”
McKenney, former Juventus star Angel Di Maria and Atalanta winger Raul Belanova are also among the names being investigated for illegal betting and playing on poker platforms, as reported in Italy, Corriere Della Sera and other press. Fagioli and Tonali are being investigated for allegations about “advertising,” while others are being investigated as “just gamblers.” According to an investigation led by prosecutors in Milan, players paid “senting gambling debts with bank transfers to jewelry stores and pretending to buy Rolex and other luxury watches.”
“Money has been poured into the pockets of two operators on illegal online betting platforms (Tommaso de Giacomo and Patrick Fizzera) by investigators. These two have been sunk by three managers (Antoniosinocca, Antonioparise, Antonioparise and Andrea Piccani),” Italian paper reports.
Players were extended by illegal betting organizers, but when the debt was too large, they were directed at jewelry stores “with fully traceable bank transfers on Rolex and other luxury watches.”
Investigators will now continue their work, but the Milan Prosecutor’s Office will also forward the case file on the investigation to the Italian FA Federal Prosecutor’s Office (FIGC) on sports issues and potential disciplinary sanctions. According to Italian news agency ANSA, “From a crime perspective, soccer players face minimal risk and can solve the problem by paying fines. The most important review comes from sports justice.”
