Nicolo Pirlo, the son of renowned Italian footballer and manager Andrea Pirlo, has been linked to illegal sports betting platforms operating in Italy, which are reportedly run by two Italian individuals. This ongoing investigation has also drawn in twelve professional football players.
According to local reports, Nicolo engaged in betting activities on these illegal platforms. Although he is not officially among those under investigation by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, his name surfaced in documents connected to a conversation between Nicolo Fagioli and referee Pietro Marinoni, who were involved in recruiting clients for the illegal operation. In the investigation, Fagioli recounted, "Here in front of me is Pirlo (Nicolo). While we were eating, he told me that he got involved with these illegal platforms." He added, "He said he couldn’t sleep at night and used to gamble on NBA rebounds, but often missed out." Marinoni then commented, "He’s one of ours."
Moreover, the conversation revealed that Andrea Pirlo discovered his son's activities and subsequently blocked all his accounts. Fagioli mentioned, "His father caught him and blocked his accounts until he turned 18. A debt of €30,000 at just 17 is quite alarming." This alarming debt figure highlights the severity of Nicolo's gambling issues, which have now attracted the attention of authorities.
The investigation led by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office is focusing on twelve players from Serie A, Italy's premier football division. While these players are not accused of match-fixing, they have allegedly placed bets on other sports and participated in online poker on illegal iGaming platforms. The case has reopened investigations into Italian footballers Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Fagioli, who had already faced sanctions for their connections to betting activities.
Other names that have emerged in this scandal include Alessandro Florenzi, Nicolo Zaniolo, Mattia Perin, Weston McKennie, and Argentine players Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria. The list also includes Raoul Bellanova, Samuele Ricci, Cristian Bounaiuto, Matteo Cancellieri, and defender Junior Firpo, along with tennis player Matteo Gigante, and ten more individuals unrelated to sports.
For his involvement, Fagioli was previously banned from playing for seven months in October 2023 after wagering on football matches, a violation according to the rules set by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). Meanwhile, Marinoni has been provisionally suspended by the Italian Referees Association until both the Milan Public Prosecutor's investigation and the FIGC inquiry are concluded.
As part of the investigation, Milan's Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) has seized approximately €1.5 million from various suspects, including bookmakers and associates of the involved parties, accusing them of illegal gambling activities, money laundering, and administrative liability of entities.
Andrea Pirlo's actions in blocking his son's bank account reveal a father's desperate attempt to curb his child's reckless behavior. Reports from Corriere della Sera indicate that Pirlo had the authority to freeze Nicolò’s bank account after discovering his gambling debt in 2022 when his son was only 17 years old.
Fagioli's text messages with Serie D referee Pietro Marinoni have shed light on the extent of the illegal online betting activities, with Marinoni suspected of masterminding the scheme that embroiled young Pirlo and Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. Fagioli described Pirlo’s son to Marinoni as "one of us," adding to the troubling narrative surrounding this scandal.
In a WhatsApp chat, Fagioli expressed concern over the magnitude of Pirlo's gambling debt, saying, "Having a €30,000 debt at 17 is something else." This statement underscores the gravity of the situation, as such a significant sum at a young age raises questions about the influences and pressures faced by young athletes in the competitive world of sports.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications for those involved could be severe. The twelve Serie A players under scrutiny face potential sanctions, and the ongoing inquiries will likely lead to further revelations about the culture of gambling within professional sports in Italy.
With the involvement of high-profile names like Andrea Pirlo and the implications for the future careers of the young players involved, this scandal has captured the attention of the media and the public alike. The ripple effects of illegal betting in sports continue to raise concerns about integrity and accountability in the world of athletics.
As authorities work to untangle the web of illegal gambling activities, the story of Nicolo Pirlo serves as a cautionary tale about the risks and consequences of gambling for young athletes. The investigation not only highlights the personal struggles of individuals like Nicolo but also points to a larger issue within the sports community that demands attention and reform.
