AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in hot water as UEFA launch ‘disciplinary investigation’ into the Swedish star’s alleged ‘financial interest’ in a betting company after reports he might face a ‘three-year ban which could END his career’
- UEFA has launched a ‘disciplinary investigation’ on striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- It is said to be over the star’s alleged ‘financial interest’ in a betting company
- He has been reported to own a 10 per cent stake in Malta-based Bethard
- FIFA and UEFA regulations do not allow players participating in their competitions to have financial interests in gambling companies
UEFA has launched ‘a disciplinary investigation’ into Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s alleged part-ownership of a betting company.
European football’s governing body has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to establish whether Ibrahimovic has violated any of its betting regulations.
The Sweden and AC Milan striker, 39, has been reported to own a 10 per cent stake in Bethard, a Malta-based gambling website, through his company Unknown AB.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is reported to own a 10 per cent stake in a Malta-based betting company
A UEFA statement read: ‘In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR), 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 Ibrahimovic for having an alleged financial interest in a betting company.’
Uefa’s disciplinary regulations state players should not have a financial interest in betting.
Reports in Sweden earlier this month suggested Zlatan could face a ‘three-year ban’ which could perhaps put an early end to his football career.
The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported details that the Swedish Football Association have been aware of the problem for three years and it is the reason the talismanic forward wasn’t called up for the 2018 World Cup, though he did retire from international football in 2016 until returning last month.
The report adds that Ibrahimovic’s company is the fourth largest owner in Bethard, which according to the latest available annual report in 2019 made a profit after tax of £25.79m.
UEFA has launched a ‘disciplinary investigation’ into Zlatan’s financial interest in the company
It details that Ibrahimovic may have violated FIFA’s rules during March’s World Cup qualifier against Georgia and in the Europa League qualifier against Shamrock Rovers in September 2020.
Ibrahimovic was announced as an ambassador and co-owner of Bethard in 2018, and said: ‘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’.
FIFA’s ethical regulations state that anyone who violates their rules will be punished by a fine and a possible suspension from all football-related activities for a maximum of three years, while UEFA’s regulations are less clear when it comes to punishment.
The former Manchester United, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker has recently signed a new contract extension that will run until his 40th birthday.
Ibrahimovic could face a three-year ban from football for his alleged ties with Bethard
He has had a successful season in front of goal, scoring 17 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions for AC Milan.
However, this is not the first time he has reportedly been in hot water this month.
He was reportedly pictured in a Milan restaurant earlier this month while the city was in a coronavirus lockdown.
Italian news website Fanpage.it published photos it says were taken at lunchtime on Sunday, April 11, of the Milan forward with friends, including former team-mate Ignazio Abate, all without masks and surrounded by wine glasses, in the restaurant which should have been closed to on-site diners.
That was last day of lockdown in the Lombardy region where Milan is located and several other regions in the country with improving Covid statistics.