US Soccer Star McKennie Among 13 Players Investigated for Illegal Gambling

by Blake Roberts, April 16, 2025

Juventus and US midfielder Weston McKennie is among 13 players investigated for illegal online gambling in Italy. The investigation focuses on poker and non-soccer betting.

Italian Soccer Shaken by Major Betting Investigation

Last season, Juventus midfielder Fagioli, who is currently on loan at Fiorentina, was excluded for seven months after admitting to betting on matches. Newcastle’s Tonali was suspended for ten months as he also wagered on games of his previous team, AC Milan.

Both players were also mentioned in the new investigation, along with McKennie and nine other former Sere A players, among which is also Leeds defender Junior Firpo. No evidence that the other players have ever gambled on soccer has appeared. However, their names were mentioned in the testimonies given by Tonali and Fagioli.

What’s Next: Potential Legal Implications

Weston McKennie, 26, has earned 60 caps for the USMNT since his 2017 debut and has been a key player. Born in Little Elm, Texas, he broke into European soccer with Schalke before moving to Juventus on loan in 2020. He recently played in the USMNT’s fourth-place finish at the CONCACAF Nations League finals.

McKennie and the other players are being investigated for betting on different sports and playing at illegal online poker platforms. According to Italian laws, the athletes do not risk being suspended. They will instead have to pay a maximum fine of €250 ($284).

Tonali and Fagioli have also been accused of promoting those gambling sites among their teammates. In a deposition, Fagioli said:

“I pointed out to (former Aston Villa forward Nicolò) Zaniolo illegal sites where he could make online bets, on roulette or poker. The organizers of the sites had told me that they would give me some advantages if I brought other bettors.”