Milan (Italy) striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be punished and even banned from playing football for three years for owning part of the bookmaker Bethard.com, according to a story in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.
The player can be penalized because the FIFA code of ethics prohibits sportsmen or any professional involved in the sport to have any kind of financial connection with a sports betting company.
The news points out that the company managed by the experienced center forward, Zlatan Unknown AB, has a 10% stake in Gameday Group PCL, an organization that is the sole owner of the Bethard website.
In 2020, the betting platform posted a profit of approximately 30 million euros (R $ 203 million, at the current price). The company’s general director, Erik Skarp, confirmed Ibrahimovic’s participation to the Swedish newspaper.
Ibrahimovic could be banned or fined for violating FIFA rules
Leave for up to three years is one of the possible penalties for players who break the rules, in addition to the imposition of a fine of around 100 thousand euros (675 thousand reais).
The ban could mean the end of the career of Ibrahimovic, who is already 39 years old and was starting negotiations to renew his contract with the Italian club.
In the current season, he is being decisive for Milan to carry out a satisfactory campaign. Currently, the team has 63 points and is second in the Italian Championship, eight points behind leaders Inter Milan. In addition, Ibra has also returned to wearing the shirt of the Swedish national team, who will be in EuroCopa in June.
Last year, striker Daniel Sturridge, who played for Chelsea and Liverpool, was sidelined for four months from the world of football for passing on inside information to his brother so that he could place bets on a possible arrangement between Sevilla and Spain. However, the transfer has not been closed.
