NEWCASTLE UNITED are braced for the possibility of Sandro Tonali being hit with a lengthy ban from football after confirming their club-record signing is being investigated by the Italian authorities for alleged betting offences.

Almost a week after Tonali was first interviewed by Italian police officials and sent home from his international squad, Newcastle broke their silence on the matter yesterday afternoon to issue a statement that confirmed the 23-year-old midfielder was being investigated by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and Italian Football Federation.

The club pledged to support Tonali through the judicial process, with head coach Eddie Howe understood to have held a series of frank discussions with the player and his representatives in the last few days.

At this stage, Tonali remains available to play in Newcastle’s Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, although it remains to be seen whether Howe deems him to be in a fit enough mental state to participate.

In the longer term, it now looks all but certain that Tonali will be hit with a lengthy suspension that will prevent him from playing in any UEFA or FIFA-affiliated competitions.

The former AC Milan player held a two-and-a-half hour meeting with the city prosecutor’s office in Turin on Tuesday, in which the Italian media are reporting that he confessed to betting on a number of football matches. It is also claimed that some of those matches involved his former club, AC Milan, at a time when Tonali was still on the club’s books.

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If that is true, it would seriously accentuate the gravity of the alleged offences. Under Italian Football Association and FIFA regulations, offences of that nature can result in a suspension of up to three years.

Given that Tonali appears to be cooperating with the authorities, with his agent on Tuesday having confirmed that his client is suffering from a “gambling addiction” and is willing to seek support to battle his illness, any ban is likely to fall below the maximum limit.

However, it is still being suggested within Italy that Tonali can expect to receive a ban of around a year, which would rule him out of the remainder of Newcastle’s domestic season as well as Italy’s campaign at next summer’s European Championships in Germany.

Earlier this week, Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, who was the first player to be placed under formal investigation by the Turin prosecutor’s office, was handed a 12-month suspension by the Italian FA after admitting to gambling offences.

Five months of the suspension were suspended, meaning he will effectively be banned for a seven-month spell, and he was also fined around £11,000. Fagioli also agreed to a minimum of six months of gambling therapy.

Newcastle appear to be determined to stand by their club-record signing, who moved to Tyneside in a £53m switch from AC Milan in the summer. Yesterday’s statement came ahead of Howe’s first public appearance since news of Tonali’s alleged offences broke, which is due to come when he conducts a pre-match press conference ahead of the Palace game on Friday morning.

Newcastle’s statement said: “Newcastle United can confirm that Sandro Tonali is subject to investigation by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in relation to illegal betting activity.

“Sandro is fully engaging with the investigation and will continue to cooperate with all relevant authorities. He and his family will continue to receive the club's full support. Due to this ongoing process, Sandro and Newcastle United are unable to offer further comment at this time.”

Tonali’s agent, Guiseppe Riso, says his client is appreciative of Newcastle’s support, but does not underestimate the seriousness of the current situation.

Speaking at an event at the Italian embassy in London on Tuesday, Riso said: “Sandro is playing an important game against gambling addiction – he will win this one too. I’d like to thank Newcastle, who have always stood by Sandro.

“He is in shock, shaken and sad. I hope that this experience saves his life and that of many others, that it helps those who fall into the same habit as him.

“Sandro is training, and on Saturday, he could also play. He understood that he has to face this problem in a strong, determined way. The club is absolutely at this moment by his side.”