I had a drink issue for a long time so know what Tonali is going through, Newcastle will be fuming but need to back him
FOR all the anger and frustration around Sandro Tonali’s gambling investigation, I just hope he gets the help he needs.
Clearly we are looking at someone with an addictive personality that you can’t just shake off with a few counsellor sessions and some time away from football.
He is a talented player who earns good money, and no one wants to see him p*** it up the wall.
There has been a recent stereotype around these sorts of betting allegations, and Tonali’s case changes the profile of it.
The stigma has been that it has only involved players who aren’t earning a great deal of money, on lesser wages, trying to make an extra quid here and there and fly under the radar.
Ivan Toney was found guilty of betting breaches, with the majority of them coming when he was in the lower leagues.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
The narrative has changed with Tonali. He was not at some small Italian club, he was at AC Milan.
So, in my eyes, this is one of the first cases in the modern era of a high-profile player where financial gain isn’t the sole driving factor.
And from what his agent has suggested, this is down to him having a horrible illness — a gambling addiction.
This reminds me of Paul Merson and how he has spoken about his own issues with gambling.
Most read in Sport
I’ve been lucky enough to listen to and speak to a lot of people who have suffered from it, professionally or at seminars.
The thrill doesn’t come from necessarily winning great amounts of money. It is more the buzz of being in that environment, chasing the losses and potentially winning it back. That turns into a spiral.
Gambling addictions still aren’t treated the same as illnesses as alcoholism or drug problems, but they should be. It is a real illness.
Ordinary people see the monetary side of gambling and struggle to comprehend it or have much sympathy for it, especially with the cost-of-living crisis.
But, we all know someone who drinks too much, as alcohol is cheap. Everyone knows someone who smokes too much. Yet gambling sounds weird and wonderful, as opposed to what it is — an illness.
Tonali right now, firstly, needs a good support network. Secondly, he needs to own it publicly. As someone who had a drink issue for a long time, I know you have to accept you have a problem. A lot of people live in denial.
Saying you have had two pints when really you have had six. Saying you had a few bets when really you have lost thousands. There is an excuse ethos, but that won’t help him.
He needs Newcastle to back him. He needs a professional addiction therapist to talk things through with him, which will take a lot of time and effort to get through. He then needs his friends and family. It is going to be a tough period.
As sad as I am for Tonali, the FA need to make a statement with a lengthy ban. It is not like these rules have been enforced this year.
When I was at Walsall 17 years ago, we were told the rules. You couldn’t bet on a competition you were involved in, then soon after that it was no betting on any football whatsoever.
Tonali would have known that too, but there remains a huge gambling culture in football that is hard to escape.
I have known lads who would make bets in training sessions, £10 or £20 here and there. They aren’t necessarily gambling addicts — they just want to get that little extra.
As a footballer, you also have inside knowledge on team selections that can help you massively in making bets that are more likely to come through.
Newcastle and Eddie Howe will be rightly fuming.
This is self-inflicted from a player they have heavily invested in and they could now lose him for a very long time.
They have had the wool pulled over their eyes. There will be some harsh words being said.
However, if he insists he is fine mentally, I would continue to play Tonali while this investigation is going on. He needs to keep his mind occupied.
I still have a few issues with the FA’s current system.
They went big on Ivan with eight months out the game, while others have had smaller bans.
The severity of each case needs to be taken into account, but the FA need some level of consistency and clarity on the guidelines and punishments.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Also, every pre-season with every club, FA representatives come in to discuss a variety of topics and rule changes, including around gambling.
The presentations are often too long, players lose interest and it doesn’t sink in. Once a year just isn’t enough.
