Although he is an acquired taste for many, if there is one area where Paul Merson can speak authoritatively, it is
gambling in professional sports, and he has gone to town on the authorities over the length of the sentence imposed
on Newcastle star Sandro Tonali.
The Italian was given a 10-month suspension earlier in the season, and while he may still train with his teammates,
he will not be able to play for the Magpies until next season.
No one knows if he’ll return as the same player or a shell of the one the North East giants acquired from Milan.
Paul Merson has slammed the authorities over ban for Newcastle ace Sandro Tonali
Merson is aware, however, that Tonali has been handled harshly by a sport with incredible double standards.
“People have no respect for gambling addiction,” he claimed during the Sacked in the Morning program.
“We’ve seen that with the bans of Sandro Tonali at Newcastle and Ivan Toney at Brentford.”To impose 10-month bans for football addiction, with sponsorships prominently displayed on clothing… They required assistance, and I do not believe ‘assistance’ entails issuing 10-month bans.
“We are underestimating this addiction. We need to show it some respect rather than saying, “Oh, show some willpower.” I would tell the people who set these restrictions and ban people, ‘next time you experience diarrhoea, try to stop that with willpower.'”
It’s difficult to disagree with Merson, whether or not you’re a fan of his.
As someone who has been down that route and witnessed firsthand how it destroys people’s lives and those of their close families, the former Arsenal player deserves to be heard on this issue.
Any assistance or direction that Merson might provide to the powers that be would undoubtedly be far more beneficial than a handful of suits sitting in an office at FA Towers deciding what punishments to impose.
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