NEWCASTLE UNITED midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned from football for ten months after admitting breaches of betting regulations, according to reports from Italy.

Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina has told Sky Sports Italia the governing body has reached an agreement with the player under which he will be banned for ten months in addition to eight months of rehabilitation and an obligation to make a series of public appearances.

That would rule the 23-year-old, a £53m summer signing from AC Milan, out of the remainder of the Magpies’ season and Italy’s Euro 2024 finals campaign, should they qualify.

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Gravina told reporters: “An agreement has been reached between the federal prosecutor and Sandro Tonali.

"The plea agreement is for 18 months, of which eight months is for rehabilitation, which involves therapeutic activity and making at least 16 public appearances.

“The rules call for a certain number of years of suspension, but the plea bargain and extenuating circumstances have been taken into consideration and the players’ collaboration went above and beyond, therefore we must continue to respect the rules we have established for ourselves.”

It has been suggested that Tonali will still be allowed to train with Newcastle during his suspension from playing.

At this stage, neither Newcastle nor the English FA have confirmed the reports.

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