Emiliano Vecchio reveals gambling addiction and past threats

Former footballer Emiliano Vecchio has publicly disclosed his struggle with gambling addiction, stating he lost approximately $500,000. In an interview with the YouTube channel Sistema Joaco Santos, Vecchio explained that his addiction escalated during his time playing for clubs such as Santos, Al Ittihad, Bolívar, and Rosario Central.

He described the difficulty of the addiction, noting that he would often spend seven to eight hours at a casino and would sometimes lose entire winnings immediately after making them. Vecchio stated that he eventually sought help and self-excluded from all casinos in 2022, around the time he joined Racing Club.

Additionally, Vecchio addressed the volatile atmosphere during his tenure at Colo Colo. He recounted a period of poor team performance where the supporters' group, Garra Blanca, became aggressive. He noted an instance where a teammate was targeted with threats of physical violence by the group due to the team's results.