USMNT star Weston McKennie named in illegal betting investigation amid enquiries from Italian authorities

The Juventus and United States midfielder, along with 11 other players who played in Serie A at the time, faces punishment for using illegal platforms for gambling, though they are not accused of betting on football matches, La Repubblicareports.

As well as McKennie, the following players are said to have funnelled large sums of money into the pockets of two managers of illegal websites, helped by the use of a jewellery shop: Alessandro Florenzi, Nicolo Zaniolo, Mattia Perin, Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria, Raoul Bellanova, Samuele Ricci, Cristian Buonaiuto, Matteo Cancellieri and Junior Firpo.

Evidence of the 12 players' involvement surfaced during the investigation into Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and Fiorentina player Nicolo Fagioli as authorities looked through their chats before handing out suspensions to both players for breaching regulations.

The Torino Guardia Di Finanza announced that it seized over €1.5 million against five people and a company, saying that individuals made "fake" purchases of luxury watches and jewellery "which, in reality, were not physically delivered, but merely constituted the reason for the bank transfer issued by the bettors to settle the debt incurred for bets placed on illegal platforms".

Tonali and Fagioli, prosecutors say, are accused of taking on the role of “gambler collectors”, putting them in charge of “spreading and advertising illegal platforms, acting as intermediaries for opening or loading gaming accounts as well as making deliveries of money on behalf of other gamblers, even in cash."

McKennie and his co-accused will be eagerly awaiting news on the case, having already seen Tonali and Fagioli punished.