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AC Milan’s Ibrahimović Under Investigation by UEFA Over Interest in Bethard
By Jeff Osienya Apr 27, 2021 IndustryZlatan Ibrahimović, the famed AC Milan FC striker, could face a career-ending 3-year ban over alleged interest in Malta-based Bethard.com sports betting site. The UEFA has opened a probe on Ibrahimović’s potential breach in its ethical code.Two weeks ago, reports emerged that Zlatan Ibrahimović, the 39-year-old striker of the Sweden national football team and Italian Serie A club AC Millan, allegedly owns a 10% stake in popular Malta-based sports betting operator Bethard. Based on a report first published by Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Ibrahimović owns a company named Unknown AB, which holds his 10% shares in the Bethard.com sportsbook.
In the face of the new developments, UEFA, the governing body of European football, has moved to actively pursue the allegations and establish whether there’s any regulatory violation on Ibrahimović’s part. UEFA has released a statement to announce a disciplinary probe on the AC Millan superstar, saying that
Quote“In accordance with Article 31 (4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, a UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector has today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by Mr Zlatan Ibrahimović for having an alleged financial interest in a betting company. Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course”
Which Ethical Code Could Ibrahimović Have Infringed?
The violation under investigation in Ibrahimović’s case is Article 12 (2) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations. Per this specific section, anyone 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” will have breached the UEFA ethical code. As the probe is still in its early stages, there’s no saying what punishment or sanctions the Swedish player could face from the UEFA.
Like UEFA, FIFA, the international governing body of football, also prohibits players from taking part in any of its competitions if there's evidence that the said players are financially tied to gambling companies. The newspaper that first reported the matter speculates that Ibrahimović might be suspended from playing football for up to three years according to FIFA regulations. Should he be found guilty, his recently signed one-year contract with AC Milan could be in jeopardy, not to mention his remaining football career. On top of that, the AC Millan striker who formerly played as a forward for England’s Manchester United may also be slapped with a fine worth over $119,500 (£86,000).
The AC Milan superstar was appointed as the Bethard ambassador back in March 2018. According to an announcement published on the sportsbook’s website, Ibrahimović explained his acceptance for the role at that time in the following statement:
Quote"I have obviously been intensively courted by betting companies throughout my career, but up until now I have not been presented to anything that has triggered me. With Bethard, there was something different. It's a company with Swedish roots, the founders are from my home town and they are true challengers who really wants to do things differently".
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