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Ex-Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has spoken in favour of gambling footballers, who he believes should not be banned for placing bets on specific sports
Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon has spoken against the treatment of his compatriots Nicolo Fagioli and Sandro Tonali after the pair were banned from football for several months due to gambling offences.
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The veteran ex-goalkeeper has reiterated his belief that the players did not need to be banned, as betting should not be seen as a crime.
Buffon's defence of Fagioli and Tonali
According to Fonza Juventus on X, Gianluigi Buffon, a legendary Italian goalkeeper, has defended Fagioli and Tonali amidst the betting scandal. Buffon's stance is that betting in itself is not a crime.
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He highlighted the paradox of gambling advertisements being prevalent in stadiums and broadcasts, yet players face severe punishments for certain betting activities.
Buffon further emphasised the need to distinguish between different types of gambling activities and to understand the real issue of gambling addiction, saying, ”If, on the other hand, a footballer bets on football, he faces punishment, and rightly so; but if he bets on volleyball, basketball, dog racing... he is not committing a crime.”
The Scandal Involving Fagioli, Tonali, and Zaniolo
Nicolo Fagioli, a Juventus midfielder, received a seven-month ban and a €12,500 fine for betting offences. He breached the sporting justice code by betting on football matches. Fagioli also agreed to participate in a therapeutic plan and attend public meetings as part of his rehabilitation, as per reports from Football Today
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Sandro Tonali, who moved to Newcastle United from AC Milan, admitted to betting on football matches during his time at Milan and Brescia and was banned for a similar amount of time as Fagioli, putting the Magpies season in disarray.
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Nicolo Zaniolo, who played for Roma during the time in question, has maintained his innocence, claiming he has never bet illegally on football. He faces an investigation and possible consequences depending on the findings, as per Football Italia.
Football’s growing gambling problem
The scandal has renewed criticism about football’s failure to adequately address gambling problems and its hypocrisy surrounding gambling, given the sport's extensive advertising ties with betting companies.
The issue is not limited to Italian football but is a concern in leagues across Europe, including the Premier League, with an ongoing debate about the extent of gambling advertising in football and its impact on players and fans alike.
Support for players and the way forward
Organisations and individuals within the football community are calling for more empathy and support for players struggling with gambling addiction.
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The argument, which Buffon also addresses, is that banning players without addressing the underlying addiction issues might not be the most effective approach.
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There's also a push for ending all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football to mitigate the risks associated with gambling.
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