Angel Di Maria and USA star Weston McKinnie are amongst a group of 12 players who have been implicated in an illegal betting scandal.
Juventus’s Weston McKennie and Benfica’s Angel Di Maria are reportedly being investigated by Italian authorities for alleged involvement in illegal online gambling, according to La Repubblica.
Leeds star Junior Firpo is also on the listGetty Argentina star Di Maria is part of the group alleged to have used illegal betting platformsAFPJunior Firpo – the Leeds United left-back – is one of the bigger names under investigation, alongside Di Maria and McKinnie.
Di Maria, the Argentina international, and McKinnie, the Juventus and United States midfielder are said to have used unlicensed platforms to place bets — though crucially, there is no accusation of wagering on football matches.
They are not alone though. The group also includes 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 large amounts of money to two individuals running illegal betting websites, with a jewellery store reportedly used as a cover for financial transactions.
There are also accusations of participating in illegal online poker games, according to Corriere della Sera.
The matches are said to have taken place between December 2021 and October 2023 on restricted-access betting platforms.
The underground games were allegedly orchestrated by a five-person syndicate based in Milan, three of whom are believed to operate luxury jewellery businesses.
Prosecutors claim that these stores were used as fronts to facilitate payments — with bettors placing fictitious orders for high-end items that were never actually delivered.
The jewellery shops, investigators suggest, effectively acted as unofficial financial institutions, bypassing regulations set by the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency.
According to Italian media, prosecutors have requested house arrest for those believed to be running the operation, with potential money laundering charges also on the table.
Zaniolo was also sanctioned for his gamblingGettyThe Milan Prosecutor’s Office is currently investigating 12 Serie A players in connection with financial transactions linked to the illegal betting ring.
In a statement, the Guardia di Finanza in Turin revealed that authorities have already seized €1.5 million (around £1.3m) from five individuals and a company.
The alleged activity came to light during the wider investigation that saw Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and Fiorentina’s Nicolo Fagioli hit with bans for gambling violations.
Authorities have unearthed these further names after combing through the pair’s messages.
Further details from prosecutors suggest that Tonali and Fagioli weren’t just users, but played a central role as so-called “gambler collectors”.
These are individuals who “spread and advertised illegal platforms, acted as intermediaries for opening or funding gaming accounts, and even delivered cash on behalf of other bettors.”
Sandro Tonali was banned soon after joining Newcastle for gamblingGettyAs the investigation unfolds, McKennie and the others now await their fate.
With Tonali and Fagioli already having faced suspensions for their involvement, the implications for this latest group of players could be significant.
Zaniolo – who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa – was implicated in a similar betting scandal in October 2023.
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