Zlatan Ibrahimovic Under Investigation for Potential Betting Violation

• UEFA is investigating AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a potential betting violation
• UEFA rules prohibit players from having financial involvement in betting entities
• Zlatan reportedly became part-owner of a betting company in 2018

Betting on sports may be legal in most major countries around the world these days, but leagues still frown upon potential conflicts of interests involving active players, managers, or team staff members.

On Monday, it was reported that AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is under investigation by UEFA for potentially breaking anti-gambling rules by becoming involved with a betting company. UEFA is the governing body of European soccer.

Reports out of Sweden indicate that Ibrahimovic may have broken rules for having an “alleged financial interest in a betting company.” UEFA rules strictly forbid any active players from being involved in any way with betting entities.

In a statement, UEFA said,

“A UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector has today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the UEFA disciplinary regulations by Mr. Zlatan Ibrahimovic for having an alleged financial interest in a betting company.”

Ibrahimovic Facing Lengthy Suspension

The 39-year-old striker has contributed 17 goals in 25 games across all competitions for AC Milan so far this season. Last week, Ibrahimovic signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through his 40th birthday next year. Earlier this year, Ibrahimovic ended his retirement from international competition to participate in World Cup qualifiers for his native Swedish national team. Ibrahimovic had retired from international play five years ago before his return earlier this year.

The FIFA Code of Ethics says that no player may have financial interests in companies that,

“promote, broker, arrange, or conduct betting, gambling, lotteries, or similar events or transactions connected with football matches and competitions.”

Earlier this month, a Swedish newspaper called Aftonbladet reported that Ibrahimovic entered a deal to become a part-owner of Bethard, a betting company. The two sides reportedly struck the deal back in 2018, but the allegations are just now coming to light.

If he is found guilty of violating the rules, Zlatan would be forced to pay a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs, which comes out to about $110,000. More seriously, Ibrahimovic would also be banned from all soccer-related activity for a maximum of three years. Given his advanced age, a maximum sentence may force the legendary striker into retirement earlier than expected.

Zlatan’s Lengthy Career

Ibrahimovic is in his fourth season overall with AC Milan across two different stints a decade apart. He scored 10 goals with five assists in 16 starts in Serie A play a season ago, while he has upped his production to 15 league goals so far this term. Milan have fallen to fifth in the league table through 33 matches, but the side is still very much alive for a spot in next year’s Champions League. Milan are currently 13 points adrift of league leaders Inter Milan.

Before rejoining Milan in 2020, Ibrahimovic enjoyed a two-year spell with the LA Galaxy in MLS. Ibrahimovic scored an incredible 52 goals in 56 games for Galaxy before returning to Europe after deeming the MLS to be weaker competition.

Zlatan has become one of the most well-known players in the world since debuting with Malmo back in 1999, with noteworthy stops at Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Paris St. German, and Manchester United.

Ibrahimovic is also Sweden’s all-time leading international scorer with 62 goals in 118 appearances for the national team. Zlatan is attempting to lead Sweden back to a World Cup after the side were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Zlatan failed to score in his lone World Cup appearance for Sweden back in 2006.