Fagioli demands ‘respect’ amid new details of illegal betting scandal: ‘I’ve paid my debt to justice’

Nicolò Fagioli feels hurt by the media attention he’s been receiving in recent days, following the emergence of new details about the illegal gambling scandal for which he has already been punished with ‘a conviction and a deserved suspension’.

Fagioli and Sandro Tonali both received sporting bans for illegal gambling activities, which included bets on football matches, dating back between 2021 and 2023.

However, these proceedings recently led to a new investigation aimed at uncovering other players involved in prohibited practices, though not involving bets on football games. The investigation also focuses on the illegal websites used and the individuals who coordinated the players’ bets.

New details from the investigation, based on depositions and analysis of devices from those involved, revealed further information about Fagioli’s gambling addiction, including his attempts to involve other players in the scheme and threats he received from debt collectors.

Fagioli: ‘I made a mistake and I paid for it. I’m asking for respect now’

The Fiorentina midfielder responded to these latest reports by sharing a lengthy post on his social media, calling for respect and urging the media to stop disclosing details that force him to relive these painful events once more.

“I’ve paid my debt to justice,” reads the caption of Fagioli’s latest Instagram post.

“With a conviction and a deserved suspension, with constant and justified humiliation, with the shame I felt, and the risk of never getting back up. I’ve shared my serious illness with schools, my family, friends, and the media. That same media that often talks about the serious issues of my illness and how to handle them, but today it’s putting me through the same thing again. Once more.

“I’ve had to carry the weight of doing something wrong. Of disappointing everyone who believed in me.

“It’s not a surprise anymore: without trying to be a victim, I’ve been through a tough time, I suffered from a serious illness, and that’s no excuse. But seeing all this media attention again is bringing back those ghosts. No, this time, it’s not fair.

“I made a mistake, I paid for it, and I didn’t hurt anyone except myself and the people around me. And like anyone who makes a mistake and pays for it, I have the right to get back up.

“Everyone, even those writing today, can fall and make mistakes. What matters is owning up to it, and I believe the strength of a person is in how they rise up. I was 19 when all of this happened, and gambling addiction had taken over. I regret it, but life gave me a second chance, and I want to take it, having already paid for everything I had to.

“I’m asking for respect now, after going through a trial and getting a fair sentence.

“I apologise to all my teammates and friends who, because of my mistakes, find themselves dragged into this – even if it’s just a mention in a newspaper – just because they’ve helped me. And I want to thank Fiorentina, Juventus, my friends, and my family, who never stopped supporting me during a tough time. Even though I’ve probably let them down.

“I won’t talk about this anymore. Now, I just need to focus on giving my best on the pitch.”