Italy removes two players from squad prior to euro 2024 qualifier against England

Italy’s national team has made a significant decision, removing two of their key players, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, from their squad ahead of the crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against England on Tuesday. The two players were also excluded from Italy’s squad for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta on Saturday.

The reason for their removal is due to an ongoing police investigation into alleged betting breaches during their time in Italy. Despite their recent transfers to the Premier League this summer, with Tonali signing for Newcastle United in a £55 million deal from AC Milan and Zaniolo joining Aston Villa on loan from Galatasaray, the allegations of gambling on football have surfaced.

If found guilty, they could face a ban of at least three years. Following police interviews on Thursday, Italy’s football federation (FIGC) released a statement confirming the players’ departure from the national team squad ahead of the upcoming games against Malta and England.

The FIGC stated, “Regardless of the allegations, we believe that the players are not in the necessary condition to fulfill the commitments scheduled in the next few days. The Federation has decided, also to protect them, to allow them to return to their respective clubs.”

This development is significant for both Italy and the players themselves, as they deal with the ongoing investigation and its potential implications on their football careers.