Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo likely to be handed financial penalty in betting case

Aston Villa star Nicolo Zaniolo is now likely to be handed a financial penalty, as part of the illegal gambling case.

While Sandro Tonali has been handed a ten-month-long ban and Nicolo Fagioli has been banned for seven months, Zaniolo continues to admit that he didn’t bet on football matches and only involved himself in playing poker and blackjack illegally.

He had a meeting with the Prosecutor yesterday and it lasted about three years. Zaniolo reiterated his point about the fact that he never bet illegally on football matches and it is likely that no evidence to suggest otherwise has been found so far, with Corriere della Sera (via TMW) reporting that it doesn’t appear as if the Italian went beyond playing poker and blackjack.

Zaniolo’s lawyers also released a statement saying that they are looking to close out the matter soon, with the player having clarified his position. Zaniolo is at risk of a financial penalty, especially if no evidence is found against him.

Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN