Sandro Tonali’s psychiatrist has tried to explain the midfielder’s betting habit by stating that he gambled on AC Milan as part of a ‘good luck ritual’.
What we know regarding Tonali’s case from his testimonies is as follows: he bet on Milan games but only on the team winning, the Rossoneri were unaware that he was doing this, he has been diagnosed with an addiction and faces a ban of over a year.
Gabriele Sani – a psychiatrist for Tonali who is director of the department of clinical and emergency psychiatry at the Gemelli Polyclinic, as well as a professor at the University of the Sacred Heart of Rome – gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
During the interview, he attempted to explain how a gambling addiction comes about and some of the motives behind it from Tonali’s point of view, with his comments being relayed by PianetaMilan.
How is a gambling addiction diagnosed?
“We are talking about a pathological addiction that has clearly identifiable traits on an objective level. There are definition tools codified at an international level. The most obvious: the complete loss of pleasure for what one does, replaced by being ‘forced ‘to do it’.
“The treatment path begins with welcoming and recognizing the person, even before the patient. And it outlines a multidisciplinary and personalized treatment that harmoniously involves psychiatrists, psychologists and therapeutic groups.
“One of the characteristics of the disease is pathological lying: whether out of shame, fear or self-contempt, we tend to hide everything even from our closest loved ones.
“Indeed, especially from them, to whom you are certain to cause suffering. One of the first steps to get out of it is precisely the recognition of the problem and sharing it.
“Once the wall of silence has been broken down, a healthy lifestyle, in line with one’s desires and abilities, in a familiar environment is certainly useful. A professional footballer can therefore find comfort by training together with comrades who support you.
“The pathology affects everyone, without distinction. A young footballer has stress and responsibilities that derive from external pressures, from media attention.
“Situations that can generate anguish and activate a dysfunctional mechanism for which ‘the cure’ becomes adrenaline of betting. It becomes something you can no longer do without, a compulsive, uncontrollable behaviour, in which potential gain has absolutely nothing to do with it.
“We have noticed a decrease in the age, up to minors, of every type of addiction.”
Why did Tonali specifically decide to bet and keep betting?
“Because gambling addiction has its own ritual, it follows a superstitious sequence. Sandro bet on Milan to win because of this. It was part of his lucky ritual, it’s called ‘magical thinking’.
“Not only that. If he has arrived where he has arrived despite this burden, once he has freed himself from it he will be able to express his potential even more and perhaps better than before.
“Of course yes, he has a powerful image and sharing it will allow many young people to recognise themselves in him, in his illness and begin to face it.”
