The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has suspended Newcastle United's Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali for ten months for betting.
Before joining Saudi-owned Newcastle in July in a 56-million-pound (64-million-euro) move that made him the most expensive Italian player in history, the 23-year-old was found to have gambled on matches involving his former team, AC Milan.
If Italy qualifies, Tonali will miss the rest of the Premier League season and next summer's European Championship.
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He is the second Italian player to be suspended from football following the revelation of a betting scandal during the recent international break.
Nicolo Fagioli of Juventus was suspended for seven months earlier this month by the FIGC's disciplinary panel.
Tonali's agent said that his client had a gambling problem.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has stated that the club will be completely behind him.
"We will throw our arms around Sandro and protect him and try to give him the love and support he needs to find solutions to the problems he's had," Howe told reporters on Friday.
"We see him being part of our team for many years. We are committed to him long term."
