Defensive midfielder Sandro Tonali and attacking midfielder Nicolò Zaniolo are under investigation by police looking into illegal betting. Investigators questioned the duo at Italy’s training camp last Thursday. The players have been sent home from international duty and won’t play against England on Tuesday.

Italian media reported this week that Tonali, who joined EPL club Newcastle this summer from Milan, has admitted to betting on soccer games via an illegal platform. Zaniolo has denied betting on games. But he admitted to playing online poker and blackjack, although he claims he didn’t know the sites he used were illegal. He currently plays for the EPL’s Aston Villa.

Fagioli Wants Plea Deal

The police raid on the training camp came a day after Juventus central midfielder Nicolò Fagioli surrendered to the Turin Prosecutor’s Office to admit to betting on games. Italian media reports he is seeking a plea deal to receive a lighter punishment.

Players found breaking Italian soccer’s rules against betting on games face up to a three-year ban from the sport.

Fagioli made his international debut last November and could have featured against England on Tuesday night were he not already embroiled in the betting scandal.

With this misadventure, we’ve all been affected by this,” Spalletti said in Monday’s prematch press conference, as translated by The Daily Mirror. “We need to move forward. We have to focus on what our goals are. They’re good 토토사이트 players. But we can’t depend solely on these players in order to get a result.”