Dangerous friendships: the relationship between Ibrahimovic and Bethard is in doubt
In the middle of the week the news jumped. According to information published by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the AC Milan player Zatlan Ibrahimovic would own 10% of the shares in the Swedish sports betting operator Bethard, of which he has also been an advertising image. This relationship would contravene the FIFA and UEFA code of ethics, so the player would be exposing himself to a harsh sanction by international football bodies that could end his career.
In March Zatlan Ibrahimovic announced his return to the Swedish national football team. But his passage could be the most ephemeral. His relationship with the bookmaker Bethard would be in contravention of the FIFA code of ethics. ©tixonov_valentin/Pixabay
Zatlan Ibrahimovic is usually the oldest when he jumps on the pitch. But with 39 years the player, who he currently plays for AC Milan of the Italian football league, he is in enviable shape. Last month he announced his return to the Swedish national team , after a five-year absence.
A hasty end to Ibrahimovic's career
If the suspicions are confirmed Ibrahimovic would be facing a harsh penalty on the part of international organizations, which he could be removed up to 3 years from the playing fields . This would almost certainly mean the end of the sporting career of the 39-year-old Swedish player of Bosniak descent.
Ibrahimovic's relationship with Swedish bookmaker Bethard would date back to 2018 when the operator “signed” the player as an advertising image . The relationship would not have been disclosed from that because it conflicted with the regulations of the English Football Federation since Ibrahimovic was still under the discipline of Manchester United.
The English Federation maintains very strict protocols on the relationship of players with bookmakers, something we have witnessed with the case of the footballer of the At. Madrid Kieran Trippier .
But it wasn't just the image
According to information revealed by the Swedish press, the relationship between Ibrahimovic and Bethard goes further. At the bookmaker operating under a license from the Malta gaming Authority and who also has a registered office on the Mediterranean island would have a significant stake the player, about 10%, through a joint-stock company . This would make him the fourth largest shareholder of the group, as reported in the Swedish press.
In this way, Ibrahimovic would be contravening all ethical codes of international football bodies . A case, to say the least curious, once the operator Bethard announced in 2019 its incorporation into the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), which stands out for its fight against manipulation in sports .
FIFA is very clear about this
While waiting for the case that keeps the sports press on edge to be resolved, FIFA regulations are very clear about this. In its code of ethics or integrity, FIFA, which has become very serious in its fight for preventing match-fixing in football and sports betting , strictly prohibits any type of involvement in betting or gambling of the footballers, referees, officials of the body and all those people professionally related to the sport.
As noted in the Code of Ethics :
- "They are prohibited from participating in betting, gambling, lotteries or similar activities and transactions, directly or indirectly, that are related to football matches or any other activity related to football.”
- "They are prohibited from having any type of interests, directly or indirectly (through third parties or with the collaboration of these), in entities, companies, organizations, etc., that promote, negotiate, organize or direct bets, games of chance, lotteries or events or similar transactions related to football matches or competitions.”
- "Interests" means any possible advantage that results in the benefit of the persons subject to the code and/or their related parties.”
In addition, in accordance with Article 26 of the aforementioned Code, FIFA contemplates a minimum fine and a maximum disqualification of 3 years in the event that the regulations are contravened.
Although the sanctions contemplated in the FIFA regulations, and also of UEFA, would not apply to Ibrahimovic's appearances with the Milan team in the national competition, they would be relevant in what it concerns the player's appearances with the Swedish national team and the international competitions in which the Italian team is present.
Now that the advertising of bookmakers and online casinos related to celebrities and people of public notoriety it has been banned in New Zealand , we wonder if Ibrahimovic's participation on a pitch in our country it could be considered as covert advertising of Bethard, given that the Swedish operator holds a legal license to operate in our country and, therefore, subject to the prohibitions stipulated in the Royal Decree 958/2020 .
