Footballers investigated for online bets online

The Italian press writes that 12 players from the first Italian football league (series A), including Weston Mckennie, Nicolo Zaniolo, Leandro Paredes and Raoul Bellanova, were identified in an investigation into illegal bets online, according to Football Italy.

Several players in Serie A are currently under investigation for online bets. The Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported for the first time on this aspect, later confirmed by the ANSA agency and other media sources.

The prosecutor in Milan started the investigation after Nicolo Fagioli and Sandro Tonali were suspended. The two Italian players were suspended in 2024 for illegal bets, including football matches. The alleged irregularities in this new investigation took place between December 202-October 2023.

There is still no evidence that other players would be involved in betting on football matches, but their names appeared after the Italian authorities heard the tones and with honeycombs and after their electronic devices were analyzed.

Corriere della Sera indicated the players under investigation: besides tones and phagioli, it is about: Alessandro Florenzi (AC Milan), Nicolo Zaniolo (Fiorentina), Mattia Perin and Weston Mckennie (Juventus), Leandro Paredes (currently at AS Roma), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Samuele Ricci (Torino) Cristian Buonaiuto (Padova), Matteo Cancellari (Parma), Adames Hector Junior Firo (Leeds United) and Tennis player Matteo Giant.

They are accused of using illegal platforms for online poker and online bets, but not for football matches. In the criminal plan, the possible punishment of the investigated players is almost irrelevant, they could be able to pay a fine in a maximum amount of 250 euros if they are found guilty.

At the same time, the Italian Football Federation could open a new investigation, but if the players do not bet on football matches, as it is now known, a suspension is almost unlikely.

As a result, Zaniolo has already been involved in an investigation for online betting, but he escaped suspension because his activities did not involve bets on football matches.