Sevilla defender Kike Salas is at the center of a fraud investigation involving sports betting. According to the newspaper El Confidencial, close friends of the player profited at least 9 thousand euros (around R$56 thousand) from bets related to La Liga matches.
The suspicion is that Kike Salas intentionally received yellow cards to benefit these bets. Therefore, the Spanish police investigate the case and the Morón Court, in Seville, conducts the process. But betting operators alerted authorities after identifying unusual financial movements related to gaming.
Possible legal consequences for Kike Salas
So, if found guilty, the player could face six months to three years in prison for fraud. In sport, you face a fine of up to 30 thousand euros and a suspension of two to five years.
With a contract renewed until 2029, Kike Salas is one of the highlights of the team led by García Pimienta, currently 13th in La Liga. The defender was detained on Tuesday (14), gave a statement and was released to return to training. He must also present himself to La Liga for clarification.
In addition to Kike Salas, two young people close to the player are under investigation for involvement in the scheme. Police specializing in illegal betting believe that Salas manipulated results in several matches at the end of last season. The matches under suspicion are those where Sevilla no longer competed for important positions in the competition.
In the previous season, the defender received 10 yellow cards, seven of them in the last eight rounds, mainly in the final minutes, after dubious actions, as reported by the Spanish newspaper. Therefore, the police are still working on collecting more evidence and statements to strengthen the case.
Similarity with the Lucas Paquetá case
The scandal involving Kike Salas is reminiscent of the case of West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá. They accused the Brazilian of manipulating yellow cards in four matches between November 2022 and August 2023. Around 60 people bet on the punishments (red and yellow cards) applied to Paquetá.
These cases raise concerns about the integrity of sporting competitions and demonstrate how illegal betting can directly affect athletes’ performance on the field.
Therefore, the competent authorities continue to investigate the case and evaluate the measures to be taken against those involved.