The international future of Socceroos forward Cristian Volpato has been thrown into uncertainty after New South Wales Police confirmed a secondary test had again returned a positive result for cocaine, leaving Football Australia to determine his fate.
The saga began on 24 July when Volpato, 22, was stopped by police on Sydney's Anzac Bridge after being clocked driving at 109km/h in a 60km/h zone. A roadside test at the time returned a positive reading for cocaine. Volpato subsequently sought independent testing at a private clinic, which he claimed came back negative, but police then ordered a secondary oral fluid test, which once again confirmed the presence of the illicit substance.
NSW Police told AAP: "On Tuesday 1 September 2026, a 22-year-old man was issued a traffic infringement notice for drive motor vehicle with illicit drug present in oral fluid." Volpato received a $722 fine as a result and will face no further legal action from police.
The Sassuolo forward, who was born in Sydney and made a late switch of international allegiance from Italy to Australia just before the World Cup, has maintained his innocence throughout the process. He told Football Australia staff he never knowingly took the substance, and a further test he underwent after returning to Italy came back negative, according to his club.
Despite the conflicting results, the confirmed positive from the secondary police test could carry serious consequences for Volpato's international career, with the Asian Cup in January looming as a key date on the Socceroos calendar. Sources have indicated to AAP that Volpato may be referred to Football Australia's disciplinary and ethics committee, which holds the authority to suspend players from national team duty.
Football Australia has been cautious in its public response, issuing a brief statement: "Football Australia has been made aware of information concerning a reported secondary oral test result relating to one of our players. We are currently seeking independent verification. The matter is being managed in accordance with Football Australia's established protocols. To protect the integrity of this process and ensure procedural fairness, we will not comment further."
The case draws comparisons to that of A-League Women goalkeeper Teresa Morrissey, who was banned for three matches by Football Australia last year after testing positive for cannabis while driving. Morrissey had argued the substance was used for medicinal reasons, and her legal team contended the punishment was excessive given her profile in the game.
Volpato's situation has generated significant media attention both in Australia and in Italy, where he continues to ply his trade in Serie A with Sassuolo. He has featured in three matches for the club this season but was forced off early during the weekend's fixture against Bologna with a suspected hamstring problem.
Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic declined to commit to a stance on Volpato's selection for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil this month, speaking at a media event in Sydney on Tuesday. "I don't know exactly the details of what happened and it would be wrong to speculate on what happened," Popovic said. "These young men, things happen and you can get caught for something we have to look into. There is a process that's playing out at the moment and we need to follow that process. When that is played out as it should, then [only then] I can really comment on that."
With Football Australia's investigation ongoing, Volpato's participation in the Asian Cup and beyond remains firmly in the balance as the governing body weighs its next steps.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.