UEFA Slaps Ibrahimović With a $61,000 Fine for His Bethard Interest

Last month, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) launched an inquiry into Zlatan Ibrahimović after reports surfaced that he has financial interest in Bethard, a Malta-based betting company. Following investigations, the UEFA has found the Swedish striker guilty of violating the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, under Article 12(2)(b). This regulation touches on the offense of a person who “participates directly or indirectly in betting or similar activities relating to competition matches or who has a direct or indirect financial interest in such activities.”

As such, the European football body has moved to slap the pro footballer with a $61,000 (£43,000) fine and issued a directive for him to sever his financial interest with the betting company. The official statement from UEFA with the verdict of the investigation reads in part:

Quote

“The Chairman of the UEFA Appeals Body today took the following decisions:
To fine Mr. Zlatan Ibrahimović €50,000 for violating Article 12(2)(b) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR), i.e. for having a financial interest in a betting company. The Chairman of the UEFA Appeals Body also issued Mr. Ibrahimović with a directive aimed at ceasing the player’s association with the relevant betting company.”

Apart from Ibrahimović’s fine, UEFA also went ahead and fined AC Millan FC, the star’s current club where he plays as a forward. AC Millan received a $30,500 (£21,600) fine and an official warning from the European football body for its player’s transgression. UEFA’s statement further read:

Quote

“Finally, the Chairman of the UEFA Appeals Body decided to warn and fine AC Milan €25,000 for violating Article 12(2)(b) of the UEFA DR (in connection with Article 8 of the UEFA DR) for its player, Mr. Zlatan Ibrahimović, having a financial interest in a betting company.”

UEFA’s verdict is a massive relief for Ibrahimović as initial reports projected that he would potentially be banned from football for three years due to the offense. Fortunately for the 39-year-old AC Millan forward, he will still be in action well past his 40th birthday. Zlatan signed a contract extension with the Italian team in April to continue with his spell until the end of the 2021-2022 Serie A football league season.

UEFA Moves to Take Legal Action Against Three Super League Clubs

Meanwhile, the European football body has opened legal disciplinary cases against “the Super League Rebels” – Juventus, Barcelona, and Real Madrid, for their involvement in the proposed Super League project.  The Super League was launched on April 18th by 12 of the best European football clubs from England and Spain, including Tottenham, Manchester United, AC Milan, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid.

The dozen-member team decided to launch a new football clubs’ competition that adopts a Swiss-style competitive format where each team plays 10 matches in the group stages. But, after heavy backlash from both fans and governments, the Super League proposal fell apart within 48 hours.

As a result of the fallout, nine clubs, excluding the said rebels, eventually agreed to settle with the UEFA. As part of the truce, the nine clubs agreed to surrender 5% of the prize money they’ll collect from winning European competitions for the upcoming 2022-2023 seasons. Further, the nine clubs agreed to pay fines worth $61.2 million and $122.5 million, should they ever violate UEFA’s code of conduct and play in competitions that the football body hasn’t authorized.

For now, the UEFA is seeking legal action against the “Super League Rebels” for allegedly breaching UEFA Disciplinary Regulations that prohibit teams under the body to form new leagues without the body’s okay. On the flip side, apart from refusing to renounce the Super League, the three rebel clubs have also sued UEFA and FIFA in Madrid.