Angel Di Maria and USA star Weston McKinnie are amongst a gaggle of 12 gamers who’ve been implicated in an unlawful betting scandal.
Juventus’s Weston McKennie and Benfica’s Angel Di Maria are reportedly being investigated by Italian authorities for alleged involvement in unlawful on-line playing, in response to La Repubblica.
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Junior Firpo – the Leeds United left-back – is likely one of the larger names below investigation, alongside Di Maria and McKinnie.
Di Maria, the Argentina worldwide, and McKinnie, the Juventus and United States midfielder are mentioned to have used unlicensed platforms to position bets — although crucially, there is no such thing as a accusation of wagering on soccer matches.
They don’t seem to be alone although. The group additionally consists of Alessandro Florenzi, Nicolo Zaniolo, Mattia Perin, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria, Raoul Bellanova, Samuele Ricci, Cristian Buonaiuto, Matteo Cancellieri and Junior Firpo.
All are alleged to have transferred massive quantities of cash to 2 people operating unlawful betting web sites, with a jewelry retailer reportedly used as a canopy for monetary transactions.
There are additionally accusations of collaborating in unlawful on-line poker video games, in response to Corriere della Sera.
The matches are mentioned to have taken place between December 2021 and October 2023 on restricted-access betting platforms.
The underground video games have been allegedly orchestrated by a five-person syndicate based mostly in Milan, three of whom are believed to function luxurious jewelry companies.
Prosecutors declare that these shops have been used as fronts to facilitate funds — with bettors putting fictitious orders for high-end gadgets that have been by no means truly delivered.
The jewelry retailers, investigators counsel, successfully acted as unofficial monetary establishments, bypassing laws set by the Italian Customs and Monopolies Company.
In line with Italian media, prosecutors have requested home arrest for these believed to be operating the operation, with potential cash laundering prices additionally on the desk.
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The Milan Prosecutor’s Workplace is presently investigating 12 Serie A gamers in reference to monetary transactions linked to the unlawful betting ring.
In a press release, the Guardia di Finanza in Turin revealed that authorities have already seized €1.5 million (round £1.3m) from 5 people and an organization.
The alleged exercise got here to mild through the wider investigation that noticed Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and Fiorentina’s Nicolo Fagioli hit with bans for playing violations.
Authorities have unearthed these additional names after combing by way of the pair’s messages.
Additional particulars from prosecutors counsel that Tonali and Fagioli weren’t simply customers, however performed a central position as so-called “gambler collectors”.
These are people who “unfold and marketed unlawful platforms, acted as intermediaries for opening or funding gaming accounts, and even delivered money on behalf of different bettors.”
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Because the investigation unfolds, McKennie and the others now await their destiny.
With Tonali and Fagioli already having confronted suspensions for his or her involvement, the implications for this newest group of gamers might be important.
Zaniolo – who spent final season on mortgage at Aston Villa – was implicated in an analogous betting scandal in October 2023.