Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, recently handed a ban by the Italian football federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules, has taken to social media to express his remorse and address ongoing controversies surrounding his case.
Fagioli’s suspension, a 12-month ban with five months suspended, accompanied by a fine of 12,500 euros ($13,225), was imposed on Tuesday. Additionally, he has committed to participating in a gambling problem treatment program.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Fagioli conveyed his apology to football fans worldwide, acknowledging his “naive mistake.” He began, “I thought I would begin by apologizing not only to Juventus fans but to all fans in the world of football and sport.”
Fagioli, however, expressed frustration with the “disgusting things” being published about him by certain media outlets and individuals. He claimed that these reports contained numerous falsehoods and seemed designed to tarnish his reputation or generate more viewership.
Although the 22-year-old refrained from providing further details at this time, he concluded his social media message by promising that he would address the situation more comprehensively in the near future.
Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo left the Italian national team’s headquarters last week, having been informed that they were subjects of an investigation by prosecutors.