Zlatan Ibrahimović hit with €50,000 fine over Bethard stake
UEFA Appeals Body orders AC Milan striker to terminate involvement with Malta-based betting operator
Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimović has been fined €50,000 (£43,178) by European football’s governing body, UEFA, over his co-ownership of sports betting operator Bethard.
UEFA’s Appeals Body issued the sanction against Ibrahimović for contravening its rules on footballers owning or maintaining interests in sports betting companies.
The governing body also instructed the AC Milan forward to end his involvement with Bethard immediately, issuing the Italian club with a separate €25,000 (£21,500) fine over the affair.
In April, UEFA launched an investigation into Ibrahimović’s involvement with Bethard under Article 12 of UEFA’s Disciplinary Regulations.
At the time, reports claimed the Swede was facing a three-year ban from the sport, something which would have effectively ended his footballing career at the age of 39.
The former Barcelona and Manchester United man joined the Malta-headquartered operator in March 2018 as a brand ambassador and became a co-owner after taking a reported 10% share in the company through his own company, Unknown AB.
Ibrahimović joined SBTech-powered Bethard when he made his transfer from Manchester United to MLS franchise LA Galaxy. In the US, and away from UEFA competitions, the forward’s relationship with Bethard did not contravene any governing body guidelines.
He only made his return to European football in January 2020 when he re-joined AC Milan, having originally spent two years with the Rossoneri between 2010 and 2012.
When he first linked-up with Bethard, Ibrahimović said he had been “courted” by gambling firms for years. At the time, Bethard CEO Erik Skarp claimed the Swede was a “dedicated and engaged” co-owner of the business and not just a poster boy.
The fine comes one day after Esports Entertainment Group (EEG) sealed the $16m acquisition of Bethard in a deal which gives EEG access to Bethard’s six European sports betting licences in markets including Spain and Sweden.