08 May 2024 , 10:53
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Newcastle star Sandro Tonali has been spotted 'grafting' in a hard hat and a hi-visibility jacket as he continues to serve a ban for breaching gambling regulations.
Tonali is currently serving a 10-month ban and has not played a game since October. He only joined Newcastle last summer in a £55million move from AC Milan, but was soon hit by a ban by the Italian Football Federation.
Last week, the Italian international was handed another two-month ban by the FA, though this has been suspended for two-years. He has also been fined £20,000 fine and given a warning about his conduct.
This ban will only be activated if he breaches the FA's betting rules again. Tonali is allowed to train but cannot play any games until next season.
The midfielder appears to be taking a novel approach to filling his time, by working alongside staff at Shepherd Offshore engineers. He was pictured donning a hard hat and high-vis jacket on Twitter.
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Shepherd Offshore has yet to comment on Tonali's apparent appearance at its site. Newcastle welcomed the FA's decision to only hand Tonali a suspended ban last week.
"As acknowledged by the FA in the independent Regulatory Commission's written reasons, the level of assistance Sandro has provided by self-referring and fully cooperating with a subsequent investigation is extraordinary and unprecedented," a spokesman said.
“Sandro made full admissions as to his betting activity, and did so in circumstances where there was no other evidence to support misconduct proceedings. Sandro is continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educational programme with the club's full support and will continue to train with his teammates.”
Tonali has taken a pay cut while he remains suspended from matches. And Magpies boss Eddie Howe revealed that was a decision that was made by the Italian alone.
"It was something he wanted to do, he felt the guilt... to show the club in good faith that he was sorry. He was determined to put it behind him and try to learn from it," Howe said last week.
"I see a small fraction of his life time on the training ground. He has been a good professional and trained very well. I am sure he has had some difficult times, but he has conducted himself in a positive way.
"It's been a huge frustration to have a top quality player that you can't use. I know what he can do and the difference he'll have made this year, but it wasn't to be."
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