Italian betting scandal focuses on more than 40 PLAYERS after Tonali and Zaniolo

More than 40 players are suspected of being involved in the betting scandal that has rocked Italian football and already includes Premier League duo Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo.

Newcastle midfielder Tonali and Aston Villa winger Zaniolo were among the first names released in the investigation being carried out by Italian authorities along with Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli.

All three players have had their phones and devices confiscated.

And the trio are set to be just the start and followed by a long list of other players who are also caught up in the far-reaching probe, a total number that runs well into double figures Mail Sport understands.

The exact level of involvement of those still to be revealed and whether they are in the sights of investigators for specifically placing bets is not yet clear.

Tonali and Zaniolo were initially included in Italy’s squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England on Tuesday.

But they were released from international duty once details of the allegations emerged and after being quizzed at Italy’s Florence training base last Thursday.

The rules on betting are strict in Italy with athletes banned from betting on their own sports.

Anyone found guilty of breaching them could be hit with worldwide suspensions of up to three years.

Cooperating with this investigation, though, could help those involved secure lesser sentences.

Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in the summer. There were initial suggestions that he bet on matches involving his former club though he is thought to be insistent that he only played online games such as poker and blackjack.

Zaniolo is claiming similar and that he did not gamble on matches with his lawyer Gianluca Tonozzi telling Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: 'Nicolo never bet. He also told me this. I

't is possible he played card games such as poker and blackjack on illegal online platforms, without knowing that they were [illegal]. We will clarify everything.'

Zaniolo returned to England at the end of last week ahead of talks with Villa officials while Tonali is now back in Newcastle and due to discuss the issue with club chiefs on Monday.

Fagioli is working with the Turin prosecutors leading the investigation after admitting he is addicted to gambling.