Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali did not deserve such a long ban.

That is the view of former Arsenal star Paul Merson, who has a lot of sympathy for Tonali.

The Italian was hit with a worldwide ban for breaching rules around players betting on football matches.

"People have no respect for the gambling addiction," the former Arsenal star told the BBC.

"We've seen that with the bans of Sandro Tonali at Newcastle and Ivan Toney at Brentford.

"To give people 10-month bans for an addiction that is ravaging football, with sponsorships all over the shirts... They needed help and I don't think 'help' is giving them 10-month bans.

"We underestimate this addiction. We need to show it some respect and not, 'oh, show a bit of willpower'. I would say to the people who make these rules up and ban people, 'next time you get diarrhea, try and stop that with willpower'."