Ibrahimovic under FIFA and UEFA investigation

[aoluain]

100 million euros for conflict interest....that's steep. He's also at the end of his career so that will hurt even more if the accusation is proven. This is probably another case of a professional athlete receiving a bad financial advice.

He should probably cooperate with UEFA and FIFA for a possibility of lighter charges.

Bethard's CEO Erik Skarp has confirmed Sportbladet that the striker still owns stokes in Bethard's sole shareholder Gameday Group PLC.

He may have got bad financial advice but surely it wouldnt  take massive intelligence
to figure out that it was a conflict of interests getting involved with Bethard,
He should have either retired early or continued playing and retired later and
then move to gambling.

Personally I was never fond of him as a player, a very cynical, bad tempered,
bad mannered player with an attitude of superiority and a player which embodies
everything I hate about Soccer, so in my opinion I have little sympathy for him.

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[masulum]

Very bad news for Milan if Ibrahimovic gets banned from playing for 3-5 years in the European Competition (UCL / UEL) and competition organized by FIFA. This could be a sign that Ibra must retire early. However, I am quite confused by the amount of the fine, whether it is 100 million euros or only 100,000 euros. because in some media it says only 100,000 euros.

[Twentyonepaylots]

This could ruin his retirement. The guy is almost over with his career, so to be fined 100 million euros for conflict of interest is something that will hit him hard certainly. I hope he has backup plans, or things in store that will make the jury rethink their investigation. Otherwise Ibrahimovic is going to suffer a lot from this lost, especially club Milan.

[LTU_btc]

€100 million fine should be mistake. Maybe it's €100k or 1 million, but definitely not 100 million. It would be waaaaay too much.
Ibra break rules and we can't argue about it. Rules related with betting companies is very strict for professional athletes. It would be sad if Ibra would he forced to retire earlier than he planned just because of it.
But there is some things which doesn't makes sense for me. Professional player can't own betting company, but they can be sponsored by betting companies. Double standards?

[BuNga_cute]

Very bad news for Milan if Ibrahimovic gets banned from playing for 3-5 years in the European Competition (UCL / UEL) and competition organized by FIFA. This could be a sign that Ibra must retire early. However, I am quite confused by the amount of the fine, whether it is 100 million euros or only 100,000 euros. because in some media it says only 100,000 euros.

I hope that Ibrahimovic does not get a ban from playing, if that happens besides harming Milan, it is also painful for the supporters.
Moreover, Ibrahimovic is already 39 years old, so if he gets punished for not playing for 3 years, he definitely has to retire from football early.
Even though the presence of Ibrahimovic is really needed by Milan, we know that this season Ibrahimovic has played very well for Milan.
So the prohibition to play for Ibrahimovic if it is true is realized a heavy blow for AC Milan.

[uneng]

This is a very polemical subject. There is a clear conflict of interest in being a soccer player and a gambling site share holder meanwhile. But at same time, he could have used a strawman to hold the 10% participation in the gambling site, as it's common in business' universe, so he wouldn't be being charged right now. And in fact, what is the difference, besides only he is being punished, between him and other athletes, FIFA and UEFA employees who use strawmen to participate in gambling companies instead of themselves? Such sanctions Ibrahimovic is suffering look hypocritical to me.

[chaser15]

Actually, there is nothing wrong with what he did but since it's a clear rule of FIFA and UEFA that it's prohibited for players to have a financial interest in betting companies, he must face the consequences.

He should already know that including the risk but still, he continues with his actions. I don't know what on his mind for involving in that activity.

The sanction is not that heavy for the likes of him. Let's wait for his side.

[Sithara007]

€100 million sounds excessive for me. And the charges are not that serious. It is not like he was involved in match fixing or anything. He indirectly owned shares in a betting firm, and I don't think that it warrants such a huge penalty. And even if the FIFA or UEFA imposes such a huge fine, why should he agree to pay that? He is already 39-years old and his career is coming to an end. He could just refuse to pay the fine.

[ralle14]

€100 million sounds excessive for me. And the charges are not that serious. It is not like he was involved in match fixing or anything. He indirectly owned shares in a betting firm, and I don't think that it warrants such a huge penalty. And even if the FIFA or UEFA imposes such a huge fine, why should he agree to pay that? He is already 39-years old and his career is coming to an end. He could just refuse to pay the fine.

€100m is definitely way too high, the realistic amount is probably somewhere €100k since it was mentioned on the other article that the betting agency made like 300m SEK in one year. 

Even if the report is indeed true I doubt he'll retire just because of the given fine since it's unusual to see someone's career to end on a bad note unless there's really no other choice. 

[Wexnident]

Huh, so I looked around turns out the same issue was in talks already way back in 2018? Though I think it's a different case this time since the one back then was him taking the ambassadorial role for Bethard, and now this which is ownership(part) of the betting company. This might actually be closer to a ban if this is his 2nd strike of being related to gambling/betting. After all, having issues with almost the same reason with three same companies seems like a warrant for them to properly impose their punishment, lest they be seen as lenient or something.

The 2018 one: https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/03/21/zlatan-ibrahimovic-could-be-sanctioned-fa-after-involvement-new-betting-company

[gabbie2010]

I believe the fine he faces is not 100 million Euros, but rather 100,000 Euros and a three-year suspension.
I couldn't find the source in English to quote.

If eventually found guilty and suspended for three years + 100, 000 Euros fine I believe this judgement is fair enough for him, this  will serve as a deterrent to other professional players who are bound to bring the game into disrepute due to their unprofessional conducts.
I am  quite disappointed with Ibra having a flourishing football career spanning many years and played in many leagues will now end his career in such a bad way is not good enough.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Huh, so I looked around turns out the same issue was in talks already way back in 2018? Though I think it's a different case this time since the one back then was him taking the ambassadorial role for Bethard, and now this which is ownership(part) of the betting company. This might actually be closer to a ban if this is his 2nd strike of being related to gambling/betting. After all, having issues with almost the same reason with three same companies seems like a warrant for them to properly impose their punishment, lest they be seen as lenient or something.

The 2018 one: https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/03/21/zlatan-ibrahimovic-could-be-sanctioned-fa-after-involvement-new-betting-company

You are right. This is the same issue that surfaced in 2018.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9470841/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-facing-three-year-ban-investment-betting-company-say-Swedish-reports.html

The report also 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.

Why do they take so much time to reach a decision? But it is not like Ibrahimovic hid his involvement with Bethard. He was quite vocal about his involvement with that company and was even announced as their brand ambassador back in 2018. 

[Marvelman]

I believe the fine he faces is not 100 million Euros, but rather 100,000 Euros and a three-year suspension.
I couldn't find the source in English to quote.

If eventually found guilty and suspended for three years + 100, 000 Euros fine I believe this judgement is fair enough for him, this  will serve as a deterrent to other professional players who are bound to bring the game into disrepute due to their unprofessional conducts.
I am  quite disappointed with Ibra having a flourishing football career spanning many years and played in many leagues will now end his career in such a bad way is not good enough.

I'm sure 100k € is nothing to him. However, I agree that sanctions are necessary.

The only thing I don't get is how he didn't realize it was against FIFA and UEFA rules? Especially because he had a similar case in 2018. I'm wondering if he took a calculated risk?

[hazenyc]

Huh, so I looked around turns out the same issue was in talks already way back in 2018? Though I think it's a different case this time since the one back then was him taking the ambassadorial role for Bethard, and now this which is ownership(part) of the betting company. This might actually be closer to a ban if this is his 2nd strike of being related to gambling/betting. After all, having issues with almost the same reason with three same companies seems like a warrant for them to properly impose their punishment, lest they be seen as lenient or something.

The 2018 one: https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/03/21/zlatan-ibrahimovic-could-be-sanctioned-fa-after-involvement-new-betting-company

You are right. This is the same issue that surfaced in 2018.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9470841/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-facing-three-year-ban-investment-betting-company-say-Swedish-reports.html

The report also 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.

Why do they take so much time to reach a decision? But it is not like Ibrahimovic hid his involvement with Bethard. He was quite vocal about his involvement with that company and was even announced as their brand ambassador back in 2018. 

The likelihood he will get suspended is relatively small. His lawyers definitely checked the situation beforehand and even a Swedish soccer official said the rules are unclear, implying that they had a thorough look at them in advance.

[ReiMomo]

I really feel bad about Zlatan. He is a good player indeed but being a good player isn’t enough. He is I guess to be one of the greatest players in Football but never in business and legalities. I don’t know why he didn’t just choose the usual path the players are taking. Owning stocks from different companies in a different name. In this way, it’s not just he can hide his name to secure his career, he can also reduce his taxes.
 
Well I guess, if in case he has been suspended he has enough funds to up his career. Like he can shift from being a player to owning a team and him being the coach. That would be a win-win for him if in case!
However, he is too young to be suspended or not being able to play. If found guilty, I guess he doesn’t have a choice.

[acquafredda]

The controversies of these days do not seem to distract Zlatan Ibrahimovic from the important things in life. And so here is that the Swede, as reported by the site Mow-Men on Wheels, was spotted at the Benetti shipyards in Livorno while visiting a boat worth an estimated twenty million. Descended from a car with dark windows, the AC Milan striker has devoted himself to the study of the yacht "Rebeca", a wonder of forty meters on three floors with a long swimming pool at sea level, a gym, a barbecue area with Jacuzzi and five cabins.
https://www.corriere.it/sport/21_aprile_15/ibrahimovic-nuovo-yacht-20-milioni-40-metri-zlatan-vuole-comprare-rebeca-nuovo-gioiello-mare-93d82f46-9e06-11eb-a55a-be49eedc613c.shtml?refresh_ce-cp

He does not look worried to me.

[perfect999]

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is under investigation because company Unknown AB that he is co-owner has 10% ownership for betting company Bethard.com.
39-year-old footballer could be fined for 100 milion euros or be suspended from all football activity for up to three years and this is going to affect him and his club Milan for sure!

I do not agree with 100 million dollar fine, but if the alternative is to just stop playing football? Dude is old enough to retire anyway, hell he was old enough to retire few years ago, I assumed his career would be over when he went to USA. In any case, 100 million dollars is a lot, he could be asked to just giveaway his shares or give up football, that way you either get no conflict of interest, or you get no conflict of interest, isn't that the purpose? If he pays 100 million and keeps being the partner then what is the point?

And if he doesn't keep being partner and pays 100 million, why did he paid it to begin with? Plus anyone who knows Ibrahimovic would know that there is zero chance he could be selling games to make more money as well. However I have to say, it is an idiotic move by him to do this as well, why be part owner of a sportsbook when you are in the bets itself? He shouldn't have done it too.

[Marvelman]

I do not agree with 100 million dollar fine, but if the alternative is to just stop playing football?

As stated earlier, it is not 100 million, but rather "just" 100,000.

[chaser15]

The only thing I don't get is how he didn't realize it was against FIFA and UEFA rules? Especially because he had a similar case in 2018. I'm wondering if he took a calculated risk?

He surely knows that but since he had a similar case in 2018, he now has some ways how to worked on that kind of scheme again without being noticed or being interrupted by FIFA and UEFA rules.

He knows the risk and accepts it. The weird thing is, everyone at least in that sector already knows the guy's involvement but the action is just taking place after years in the making.

[Sithara007]

I do not agree with 100 million dollar fine, but if the alternative is to just stop playing football?

As stated earlier, it is not 100 million, but rather "just" 100,000.

In that case he could just pay this nominal fine (€100,000) and close this issue once and for all. But I still don't understand why the Swedish authorities were so late to act. The news first came out in 2018, and we are still discussing about it three years later. A deal would have been reached much earlier. And I would say that this is not the way to treat a legend, who has helped his country to qualify for several global tournaments.