Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi says Italy are correct to cut loose Nicolo Zaniolo and Sandro Tonali from their squad.
Aston Villa attacker Zaniolo and Newcastle’s Tonali have been released by the Azzuri amid an investigation by prosecutors over alleged player betting.
Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli has already spoken to officials.
“There is the most decisive match of all, which is that of fair and correct behaviour off the field,” Minister for Sport Abodi told reporters.
“The credibility of the football system is more important than some qualifying games. It sounds painful, but that is the truth.
“Taking into account that gambling addiction is not just a football issue, but a social pathology, it is opportune to send the lads home, also to protect them.
“This is not a phenomenon we under-estimated, but perhaps we didn’t look into it deeply enough,” continued Minister Abodi.
“Something had already emerged on Fagioli, but with the others the first we heard of it was today. We need to respect the work done by the investigation and also understand the dimension of this phenomenon of betting.
“When I was President of Serie B for seven years, we had initiatives in first teams and youth academies to explain the risks of match-fixing and gambling addiction. We will face this together, even taking painful decisions.”
