The fact that Italy is once again in doubt about a tournament ticket is no longer the most important thing ahead of the classic against England. A betting scandal is throwing the nation into turmoil. New revelations are imminent.

Italy’s soccer is trembling before a new “tsunami.” But this horror scenario conjured up by the “Corriere della Sera” has, for once, nothing to do with the national trauma of two missed World Cup tournaments. Although the Squadra Azzurra still have to fear for their ticket to the 2024 tournament in Germany before the classic against England in the European Championship qualifiers, the nation is preoccupied with completely different things. A betting scandal is also rocking the national team – and could even spread.

No fewer than three of the Azzurri’s young stars are suspected of having been involved in illegal online sports betting. On Tuesday evening shortly after the rematch of the European Championship final between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium (20.45/DAZN), the names of more footballers involved in the scandal are to be revealed.

This was announced by former celebrity photographer Fabrizio Corona, who brought the scandal to light. The 49-year-old was just released from seven years in prison, among other things for extortion. In the meantime, he runs a portal on the Internet called Dillinger, named after U.S. bank robber John Dillinger (“Public Enemy No. 1”).

After Corona’s latest announcement, not only is the anxiety great, so are the expectations. For the affair already fulfills all the conditions to shake Italy’s affair-plagued soccer in the long term.

The central figure in the betting scandal so far has been Nicolò Fagioli, a midfielder for Juventus Turin. The 22-year-old is considered a great talent and has even played for the national team. Fagioli is said to have gambled away more than a million euros in sports betting on the Internet. Allegedly, several teammates at Juve knew about his problems. European champion and current Union Berlin player Leonardo Bonucci was captain there.

According to Italian media reports, Fagioli has now confessed and is cooperating with the investigating public prosecutor’s office in Turin in order to obtain a lighter sentence for himself. However, he denies having bet on his own team’s matches.

Gambling is generally allowed in Italy, but not on illegal online platforms. Players are also not allowed to bet in sports in which they are active themselves. If they are caught, they face fines and at least a three-year ban, valid internationally. For Fagioli, this could mean that the career he has just begun will be over early. But nothing has been proven yet and no one has been convicted.

In the meantime, however, the affair has caught two other young stars of the national team: Sandro Tonali (23) and Nicolò Zaniolo (24), both under contract in the English Premier League. Tonali only moved from AC Milan to Newcastle United in the summer for an estimated 80 million euros, while Zaniolo plays for Aston Villa.

After Corona made their names public last week, the federation immediately sent them home from the European Championship qualifying training camp. Investigators confiscated cell phones and tablets. They were then able to watch their colleagues’ 4-0 victory over Malta from their adopted English home.

The Tonali case in particular is now being intensively pursued. He was considered by many in Italy as a possible successor to the legendary strategist Andrea Pirlo. According to a report in La Repubblica newspaper (Monday), Tonali has now also confessed and is willing to cooperate with prosecutors. He is “devastated,” his lawyers said. Also at stake for him is the length of a possible ban.

In sporting terms, Italy can take a big step toward the 2024 European Championship in Germany with a win against England after a 2-1 home defeat in March. The Azzurri are second in the table ahead of Ukraine, who are level on points, but have played one game less. The top two teams will punch their tickets directly, and new national coach Luciano Spalletti and his team want to avoid the arduous detour via the playoffs at all costs.

A defeat would put the 2021 European champions under even more pressure ahead of the crucial games against North Macedonia and Ukraine in November. As things stand, none of the three young stars will be there then.