In response to the news of Sandro Tonali’s impending suspension for betting-related offenses, former Aston Villa player Gabriel Agbonlahor has admitted to struggling with poker addiction during his playing career.
Agbonlahor, an iconic figure at Aston Villa with 391 appearances for the club, revealed that his poker addiction stemmed from boredom after training. He explained that many of his teammates, particularly those who were single and didn’t have children, encountered similar challenges. This revelation comes in the context of Newcastle star Sandro Tonali, who was Newcastle’s marquee summer signing, facing a lengthy ban for openly admitting to placing multiple bets on football, including on his own team. Another player, Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, who was implicated in the same investigation, has already received a seven-month ban from football.
Unlike Fagioli, Tonali reported himself to the authorities. It is expected that Tonali will receive a slightly lighter punishment, as his agent has disclosed his gambling addiction. Italian regulations prohibit athletes from betting on the sports in which they participate, and strict consequences are in place for betting on matches involving themselves or their team.
Regarding the betting offenses, Agbonlahor emphasized that it is relatively easy for footballers to become ensnared in gambling activities, and once they do, it becomes a difficult habit to break.
Agbonlahor, who was enjoying a good income during his time at Aston Villa, noted that his poker addiction was largely a result of being single with no children and living with peers who also did not have kids. After early training sessions that concluded around 12:30pm to 12:45pm, he found himself bored and turned to online poker on his laptop. This often led to trips to casinos in the evenings, eventually spiraling into a full-blown addiction, a situation that was not unique to him but rather prevalent among many players at the club. It’s important to note that his addiction was primarily related to poker rather than betting on football matches.
