AS Roma Shows Support for Players Amid Illegal Betting Scandal

Italian football has been shaken by allegations of illegal betting activities involving some of its prominent players. The spotlight has now turned to AS Roma, which has firmly backed its players, Stephan El Shaarawy and Nicola Zalewski, against the allegations. The club released a statement expressing full support for the players and dismissing the rumors that have tainted their image.

“In reference to the rumors spread in recent days regarding the alleged involvement of some of its members in the investigation relating to football betting, AS Roma expresses its full support towards Nicola Zalewski and Stephan El Shaarawy, victims of repeated speculation that have unfairly damaged their image,” AS Roma stated. “The club has total faith in Nicola and Stephan when they say they have nothing to do with this matter.”

El Shaarawy, who recently represented the Italian national team, and Zalewski, who plays for Poland, both denied their involvement in illegal gambling activities. Despite the controversy, AS Roma continues to support its players amidst the ongoing investigations.

This incident is part of a larger, ongoing illegal betting controversy that has been plaguing Italian football. In recent weeks, several prominent figures in Italian football have been linked to illicit gambling.

Nicolò Fagioli, who plays for Serie A team Juventus, was the first to be implicated, accused of placing bets with unlicensed gambling sites. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has strict rules that could lead to bans of up to three years for athletes found involved in sports betting. This week, Fagioli received a seven-month suspension for his betting activities, with Juventus pledging its full support.

Juventus confirmed, "We are firmly convinced that Nicolò, with the support of the club, his teammates, his family, and the professionals who assist him, will face the therapeutic and training process with a great sense of responsibility and, once the disqualification has been served, he will be able to return to competing with due serenity."

Two more Italian national team players, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, have also been linked to illegal betting activities. Tonali plays for Newcastle United in the English Premier League, while Zaniolo plays for Aston Villa, also in the Premier League. Both players were sent home from national team duty as investigations unfolded.

Newcastle United confirmed Tonali is under investigation by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and FIGC regarding illegal betting. Meanwhile, Aston Villa has not commented on Zaniolo’s alleged involvement.

Amid the ongoing dispute and illegal betting revelations, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has called for a revision of Italy’s strict ban on gambling advertising. A recent report revealed that Italian consumers spend €25 billion on black market gambling websites annually, with €18.5 billion being bet on unlicensed sites, constituting roughly 75% of all illegal bets in Italy.

EGBA is urging Italian authorities to enhance awareness among consumers about the risks associated with illegal gambling. This may include reevaluating the country’s blanket ban on gambling advertising, which currently prohibits all forms of such advertising. The EGBA suggests that a lack of awareness about approved operators may be contributing to the high rates of black market gambling in Italy.