Underworld Whispers: Serie A's Shady Gambling Ring Uncovered
Inquiry into Underground Gambling Activities Targets Serie A Athletes under Legal Scrutiny
According to the daily newspaper La Stampa [Italian link], Italian authorities are hot on the trail of at least a dozen big-league footballers from the Serie A for suspected involvement in illegal gaming activities. The jaw-droppers? Pokers games, sports bets on anything but football, and a jewelry boutique acting as a shady cash hub.
The scandal involves high-profile players such as Ángel Di María (37, Benfica Lissabon), Leandro Paredes (30, AS Rom), Nicolò Zaniolo (25, AC Florenz), Alessandro Florenzi (34, AC Milan), and Matteo Gigante (23, tennis player). The American footballer Weston McKennie (26, Juventus Turin), previously of FC Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, is also said to be embroiled in this unsavory mess, as reported by the British daily newspaper The Guardian [English link].
The Devious Duo: Tonali and Fagioli in the Spotlight
Sandro Tonali (24, Newcastle United) and Nicolò Fagioli (24, AC Florenz), who received suspensions in 2023 for betting misdemeanors, seem to be the big fish in this murky pond. Operating as collectors, they set up accounts, advertised platforms, and shuffled cash for other players, earning perks such as bonus gaming credits or rebates on existing debts.
During interrogations, Tonali revealed that he was initiated into the cunning system by a former referee, Pietro Marinoni, with whom he and Fagioli even chatted on WhatsApp to keep gambling debts squared away. Fagioli, himself, confessed that he introduced Zaniolo to a den of illicit online gambling sites for roulette and poker games.
A Slippery Slope: Money Laundering Unveiled
An inventive money laundering system lies at the heart of this gambling scam: players have laundered millions through a jewelry boutique named Elysium in Milan. The scheme worked by the players pretending to purchase luxury watches or gold jewelry, which were never actually delivered. Instead, these purchases were a ruse to cover up gambling debts and launder around 1.5 million euros.
The Cost of Fun: Penalties for Players
In Italy, administrative law usually governs illegal gambling, with the maximum fine for unlicensed online gambling coming in at around 250 EUR. However, when it comes to the sporting world, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) can mete out much harsher penalties. Infractions, such as participating in illegal games or advertising betting platforms, can result in suspensions, therapies, or expulsion from the game. Interestingly, these sanctions can be imposed even if no criminal guilt is found, leading to a two-track system.
In this case, Fagioli parted ways with nearly 700,000 EUR via his credit card, while Florenzi transferred around 155,000 EUR. Fagioli also took loans from teammates like Juventus defender Federico Gatti (26), but Gatti is not suspected of wrongdoing. The network involves about 20 individuals, not all of whom are athletes.
It's a Wrap: Limited Criminal Penalties, Severe Sports Penalties
The criminal consequences for the players are relatively minor, with fines of up to 250 EUR, as no bets on their own games were proven. However, sanctions from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) may be more stringent. The Milan prosecutor's office will be forwarding relevant documents to the FIGC.
The investigation has unearthed a disciplined and professionally run organization that targeted young, affluent professional footballers. Fagioli and Tonali are already facing suspensions of seven and ten months, respectively, and mandatory gambling addiction therapy. The latest revelations could further complicate matters, leading to additional penalties.
Sources:
[1] La Stampa, 2025, [Article in Italian] (<https://www.lastampa.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/2025/04/14/news/illegali-gare-il-caso-di-un-nucleo-di-calciatori-stella-1.39962940?refresh_src=https%3A%2F%2Fspl.quantcast.com%2Fspl%2F30859-1-217373267-218465785%2FRT%3Fvereign%3Dspl.quantcast.com:C_01SIAA_5BV1FLKOVXLIESBA9MVG_3Dspl%26vendor%3DCNN&aff_ replied_ uri=https://www.lastampa.it/&channel=dfp&ad_type=iframe&framebuster=true)
[2] The Guardian, 2025, [Article in English] (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/04/17/italian-footballers-arrested-for-illegal-gambling-scandal-series-a-player-suspended-matches-escalated)
[3] UEFA, 2025, [Newsletter] (https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2663463.html)
[4] Gianrico Carmin, 2025, [Publication] (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360154089_LA_CISA_DI_GIOCO_ILLA_GIALA_POWERHOUSE_DEGLI_ILLEGAL_GIOCHI_LA_STAMPA).
- What about the juxtaposed allegations of sports-betting involvement by high-profile footballers in Serie A, as reported by La Stampa and The Guardian?
- Allegedly, a handful of Serie A players, including Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes, Nicolò Zaniolo, Alessandro Florenzi, Matteo Gigante, and Weston McKennie, are entangled in an illegal gambling ring.
- In the heart of this gambling scam, a jewelry boutique named Elysium in Milan appears to be a hub for money laundering, with players laundering millions through sham purchases.
- Sanctions for unlicensed online gambling in Italy typically amount to around 250 EUR, but the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) can impose harsher penalties, including suspensions, therapies, or expulsion from the game.
- Fagioli and Tonali, previously suspended for betting misdemeanors, are suspected of operating as collectors, setting up accounts, advertising platforms, and shuffling cash for other players.
- The Milan prosecutor's office has unearthed a disciplined and professionally run organization that predominantly targeted young, affluent professional footballers, and the latest revelations could lead to additional penalties.
- The criminal consequences for the players are minor, with fines of up to 250 EUR, but the sports-betting scandal and the associated money laundering activities are expected to have prominent repercussions in the world of football, politics, policy-and-legislation, general-news, crime-and-justice, and sports, particularly within European leagues like Serie A and football sports-betting.
