A social media post by Grêmio player Ferreira caused controversy about partnerships between bookmakers and players. Last Saturday, the day that Grêmio faced Caxias, in the final of the Campeonato Gaúcho, Ferreira published on Instagram a betting slip for R$500, at Esportes da Sorte.
The bet was on the team’s own victory. Injured, he did not play in the match. In an interview with GE, the player’s agent, Pablo Bueno mentioned that it was limited to advertising for the company, sponsor of the athlete and the club from Rio Grande do Sul. The bookmaker reported that other partner people also published the same invoice, the same print.
Those involved denied that the print was a bet by the player himself, something prohibited by FIFA. The entity stipulates a fine of “at least 100,000 Swiss francs” (R$ 550,000) and a ban from football for up to three years for players, referees and officials who bet on football matches.
Fifa’s position on bookmakers and players
FIFA’s code of ethics prohibits other types of involvement in sports betting:
A third party places a bet on your behalf on a football match with the money of someone involved in football, and the person involved in football takes the profit;
A third party places a bet on your behalf with your own money on a football match with someone involved in football, and they share the profits;
Someone involved in football passes on privileged information to third parties, which is information that that person can only have due to their position in the game and that is not available to the public. The third party places a bet on this game based on the information received.
In its Code of Ethics, FIFA makes no specific mention of acting in partnership between bookmakers and players. The Ministry of Finance, which is preparing a provisional measure to regulate the sector in the country, intends to add a ban on sportsmen betting, as well as force entities to foresee such situations in their regulations.
Position of the CBF
The General Regulation of Competitions of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) has an item in article 65 that prohibits the player from betting. Another item says that it will be considered “illicit conduct” the fact of: “instructing, encouraging or facilitating any other person to bet on a football match in which he is participating or can exert influence”.
The RGC of the Gaucho Federation has a similar item. According to the GE, Grêmio should promote guidance for players, coaching staff and other club employees. He deleted the post.
Official statement from the Guild
“Grêmio FBPA, in order to preserve the transparency of its processes, of the ethical and moral values advocated by this institution, informs that it is taking all necessary measures regarding the episode involving the athlete Ferreira and the sponsor of the Club, Esportes da Sorte, released on the player’s social network last Saturday.
Grêmio, in line with the rules established by the world football organizations, with regard to the prohibition of sports betting and possible punishments, such as those regulated by FIFA, will issue, as of this Monday, 03, a formal communication to athletes and technical committees, of all categories, on the new norm that will be in force in the Club in the relations of its professionals with this type of entertainment.
Finally, Grêmio undertakes to maintain the fairness of the game and a wide internal control so that no practice can be configured in disrespect or non-compliance with the rules in force”.
