Stefano Pioli, a former soccer defender and the current manager of AC Milan, claims he had been unaware of Sandro Tonali’s gambling problem when trading him to Newcastle United. For reference, Tonali was recently involved in a sports betting scandal and banned from competing for several months.

Tonali joined Newcastle earlier this year following a £55 million transaction. While he played with the club for a short while, taking part in a dozen games, he is currently unable to compete because of his ban, presenting challenges to his team.

Pioli was asked if he was aware of Tonali’s gambling problems at a recent press conference at St James’ Park. The manager denied being aware of Tonali’s gambling problems, instead describing him as someone who was “very polite, respected and respectful to others.”

While Pioli said that he often feels like he has “an open relationship” with the players, he said that he doesn’t inquire about their personal lives and only talks to them about soccer.

Newcastle United Did Not Make a Mistake Taking Tonali, Pioli Says

The manager further discussed Tonali’s gambling problems, expressing his confidence that the player would be able to overcome his addiction. Pioli described the young athlete as a great soccer player with many qualities.

We’re close to Sandro. When he was with us, he was a really cheerful, positive young man, close to the team, popular, very important to the team’s rise, applied himself, worked hard, very willing to help the team.

Stefano Pioli, manager, AC Milan

The manager added that he regrets to see Tonali falling into such a “delicate situation” and added that the rest of AC Milan supports him and wishes him a better future.

Pioli also pointed out that Newcastle United will not regret picking Tonali up. While he admitted that the player’s gambling problems are an unexpected caveat, he said that Tonali’s skill in soccer will surely make up for the difficulties he has caused to his current team.

Ibrahimovic Joins AC Milan as Adviser

In the meantime, Pioli and AC Milan have welcomed Zlatan Ibrahimovic back. Now a senior adviser to the club, the former player will leverage his spectacular career and profound experience to support the team.

During the conference, Pioli praised Ibrahimovic as a determined and intelligent individual who is now taking the next step in his career.

In the meantime, AC Milan is set to face Newcastle United later today. Pioli said that his team remains bullish on winning the game, despite the significant challenge posed by the Magpies.

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Sports betting is currently a hot topic across the United States. Five years after the repeal of PASPA, betting is available online and retail and more than 30 states offer legal options for the activity. But the statewide spread resulted in fears of integrity for professional sports leagues such as the NFL. Last month, the League suspended five players and started an investigation into gambling violations.

Now, one of the players that was suspended recently, Jameson Williams of the Detroit Lions, spoke about his six-game suspension. As announced by ESPN, Williams said that he wasn’t aware of the NFL’s gambling policy. “Just make the right decisions, it was something I wasn’t aware of and it caught me,” he said. Additionally, the suspended player explained that he isn’t a gambler but a football player.

“I’m not a gambler. I’m a football player.“

Jameson Williams

Williams also explained that the suspension for him and some of his fellow teammates came “out of the blue.” Clearly, Williams was unhappy with the situation. He admitted he “felt it alone” but acknowledged that he is looking forward to returning and playing with the team.

The Young NFL Player Has a Lot of Potential

Dan Campbell, the team’s head coach, spoke about the work with Williams. The coach said that he sees the young player get better. “We’re already miles ahead with him,” pointed out Campbell. Additionally, he explained that Williams has a lot of potential to continue to develop and grow further.

Overall, there were four Detroit Lions suspended last month and the list included Williams, Quintez Cephus, and Stanley Berryhill, all of which are receivers, and safety C.J. Moore. The NFL also suspended Shaka Toney, Washington Commanders’ defensive end.

Earlier this month, the American Gaming Association (AGA) revealed that in 2019, only 63% of American adults supported the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down PASPA, which paved the way for the expansion of betting. However, judging by the latest data, the AGA said, 85% of American adults favored the US Supreme Court’s decision, while 77% of the adults supported the legalization of betting within the state they live.

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