Source: REUTERS/David Klein
[Saba Sports News] Recently, Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina stated that players involved in gambling issues will not be deprived of the chance to play for the national team. Previously, Italian internationals Sandro Tonalli and Nicolo Fajoli were both suspended for participating in illegal online gambling, but they have since returned and are representing Italy again. During the “Football for the Future” event at Milan’s Beccaria Juvenile Prison, Gravina talked about these two gambling-involved players. Gravina said: “Rehabilitation activities are the cornerstone of our work. We have two important champions, two excellent boys who face gambling addiction issues. They were incorrectly viewed as weak, but gambling addiction does not mean weakness. Some people claim that these two boys should not wear the Italian national team jersey again, but on the contrary, I believe the jersey should be given to them. They have won the battle against gambling addiction, and their most beautiful victory is having the courage to seek help. When this happens in sports and football, it means they wish to gain freedom and overcome problems.”