Loophole will allow Sandro Tonali to play for Newcastle this weekend despite 10-month ban

Sandro Tonali is allowed to play for Newcastle United this weekend despite having been issued a 10-month betting ban, according to Eddie Howe.

Tonali is set to be banned over breaches of betting rules, having placed bets on matches in his native Italy.

The midfielder, who only completed a £55million move to Newcastle from AC Milan this summer, is set to miss the remainder of Newcastle's season as well as Italy's Euro 2024 finals, should they qualify.

Indeed, according to the ban, the 23-year-old, will not be able to play competitive football until August 2024 but is free to train with Newcastle and feature in friendlies.

While the 10-month ban was announced on Thursday, Sky Sports have claimed it still needs to be rubberstamped by the Italian authorities.

Though that formal ratification could come this afternoon, until it does, Tonali is available for selection and could feature against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend.

Magpies boss Howe said: "We've not had official confirmation as a football club. We've not had anything from the Italian authorities so we waiting for that official confirmation to come through. There's a high chance he could be available for us. A few things need to happen before the ban is imposed to let's see.

"You saw from the Dortmund game he did very well. He's been bright and he's trained. The only way I can judge him is on that. He's been good around the group and the training ground. From how I can see, he's handling himself in the right way.

"I think I said in the press conference the other day, I can't work with hindsight. We didn't know this was even a possibility. There's a frustration that we won't have him now as I liked him as a footballer."

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Topics: Football, Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.