Newcastle Sporting Director Dan Ashworth Confirms Tonali Investigation
Once Eddie Howe completed his Press conference on Friday morning, Dan Ashworth took time out of his schedule to offer his executive-level perspective. He discussed issues like Sandro Tonali’s global ban, possible Saudi Pro League loan moves and more.
After being found guilty by Italian authorities of gambling on Brescia and AC Milan games to win, 23-year-old midfielder is suspended from competitive football until August. Mail Sport understands the FA are investigating if betting continued post his PS52million summer move to Newcastle United.
Legal action
The FA has initiated an investigation into Sandro Tonali after it was reported by the Italian Football Federation that he breached betting rules when joining Newcastle from AC Milan for PS55 million this summer. They will seek to ascertain if Tonali breached any FA betting rules during his stay at Newcastle.
Tonali has been banned from playing for the club, yet can continue training and competing in intrasquad matches. His ban comes at a great expense to St James’ Park as this first season had only just begun for Tonali.
Saudi Arabia is widely perceived to stifle freedom of expression, employing high-tech espionage tools to monitor dissidents abroad, as well as “electronic brigades” to harass and threaten critics online. Reporters Without Borders notes that even exiled individuals face harassment from state security services; freedom of speech is limited by law, while defaming monarchy, governance system or Al Saud family members could result in criminal charges being brought against them.
Ruben Neves
Ashworth replied when asked if Newcastle might take legal action against AC Milan for allowing Tonali to join them during the summer transfer window, “That is something we may look at – though it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what happened and whether they knew about the gambling issue”.
Read More: يلا شوت
Last month, Newcastle agreed to a plea bargain regarding betting violations during his time with Brescia and Milan. Due to his absence in midfield for Newcastle this means they now need to fill his vacancy, prompting speculation they could use January’s transfer window as a means for doing so.
Reports have suggested that Newcastle could target Ruben Neves from Al Hilal as a possible loan signing, although such an approach could prove controversial given that Saudi Pro League clubs are owned by PIF. Ashworth did not deny that Newcastle scouts had kept an eye on Ruben, while also refusing to rule out signing any Pro League players this month.
The January transfer window
European clubs’ top five leagues can now take part in the January transfer window, providing clubs a month-long window where they can purchase or sell players permanently or loan them out until season’s end.
Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth describes Sandro Tonali’s arrival at Newcastle as both “whirlwind and massive shock”, revealing they have not opened legal channels against AC Milan for their gambling addiction that led to his 10-month ban from football.
Newcastle United are considering signing Al Hilal Portuguese star Ruben Neves on an interim basis to fill any void left by his suspension, with Ashworth responding that “currently no Premier League rivals will attempt to prevent” such a move.
Sandro Tonali
Newcastle supporters are now asking whether AC Milan misled them when they purchased Sandro Tonali last summer, leading them to suspect any possible mischief was done by them in selling him back at such an unfavoured price. While their sporting director has refused to rule out legal action against AC Milan for selling off one of their prize signings, all aspects of this transaction will be reviewed thoroughly before any decisions are made on legal action against them.
Ashworth believes Newcastle would not have signed him if they knew of a possible 10-month ban from football, which has come as an enormous surprise to the 23-year-old midfielder. Ashworth described his ban as an unexpected “massive shock” for the player and suggests such a sanction could have prevented betting activity involving former clubs Brescia and AC Milan games that involved betting activity involving these former clubs.
He fears Newcastle’s Premier League rivals could try and prevent them from signing a replacement for Tonali in January, citing Al-Hilal’s Portuguese ex-Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves at Al-Hilal as one possible candidate; Al Hilal is owned by Saudi Pro League side Public Investment Fund which could allow Newcastle to skirt FFP restrictions.