Sandro Tonali & Nicolo Zaniolo released from Italy squad following betting investigation

Italy will face England in the Euro qualifiers

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United and Nicolo Zaniolo of Aston Villa are purportedly implicated in illicit betting; this is the subject of an investigation.

Tonali and Zaniolo, who were selected to represent Italy during this month's international break, are both going back to their club as a result of the claims, according to the Italian Football Federation.

The statement said.

"The Federation announces that, in the late afternoon of today, the Turin Public Prosecutor's Office notified investigation documents to the players Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, currently in training with the national team at the Federal Technical Center in Coverciano.

"Regardless of the nature of the acts, believing that in this situation the two players are not in the necessary condition to face the commitments scheduled in the next few days, the federation has decided, also to protect them, to allow them to return to their respective clubs."

Tonali, a midfielder, returns to Newcastle after spending the summer there after leaving AC Milan.

With the Magpies, who are ninth in the Premier League and first in their Champions League group, he has had an excellent start to his career in the North East.

Zaniolo, who is now on loan from Turkish club Galatasaray, returns to Villa. The midfielder, 24, has played nine times for the Villans.

The two will be absent from the Azzurri's qualifiers against England and Malta on Friday and Tuesday, respectively.

Depending on how Ukraine performs against North Macedonia on Saturday and whether they win or lose, England can secure their spot at Euro 2024 with a victory or tie against Italy.