Alternative Paths: The High-Stakes Lives of Five Footballers
Football professionals are well-known all over the world for their skills, huge salaries, and opulent lifestyles. Their passion for gambling, however, is one facet of their lives that is frequently kept out of the public eye. It’s understandable that many of the most famous figures from the beautiful game are lured to the fast-paced world of high-stakes betting given their access to enormous sums of money.
The world of elite European football will return this month following its annual three-month close season, and there arealready a plethora of talking points despite a ball not yet being kicked. In England, the question is can anyone catch Manchester City? The Blues romped to a historic treble last term, but with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool all spending heavily this summer, Pep Guardiola’s stranglehold on the domestic product may yet come to an end this term.
Elsewhere on the continent, Bayern Munich’s pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been the talk of the transfer window. Will the current England captain trade North London for Bavaria or will he remain steadfast in his loyalty to his boyhood club? If Captain Kane does make the move, he may well find himself visiting the vaunted Jokers-Wild-Casino, which is one of the most popular establishments in all of Bavaria.
In this article, one particular unconventional Italian striker and four other football sensations with a reputation for enjoying gambling will be examined in more detail.
Ivan Toney
Ivan Toney is a current England international striker who has gained attention for his love of gambling. Unfortunately, though, this has resulted in him facing consequences from the English FA. English football’s governing body has imposed an eight-month ban on the current Brentford captain due to his violation of betting regulations. During his time away from the game, the former Peterborough United man may find some respite in visiting enjoyable online casino sites, and despite his ban, there are still speculations surrounding his potential transfer this summer.
Surprisingly, Chelsea, who had a disappointing season last term by their usual high standards, appear undeterred by the 27-year-old striker’s ban. Throughout the summer, the West London club has been consistently linked with a move for Toney. Following their significant £300 million spending spree in January, it seems that Todd Boehly’s financial resources are far from depleted.
The recent appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as the new manager at Stamford Bridge further fuels speculation of a potential transfer. The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss has already brought in Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig but he may also consider facilitating a move for the talented Englishman, who managed to net an impressive 20 goals in the Premier League last term.
Joey Barton
Former Manchester City midfielder and current Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has long been known for his controversial actions both on and off the field. However, it is his gambling habits that have recently come under scrutiny. Barton reportedly placed over 15,000 bets across a 10-year period, resulting in a significant loss of money and a subsequent ban from football. Despite his struggles with addiction, Barton remains open about his experiences and has become an advocate for responsible gambling.
Mario Balotelli
Naturally, the renegade Italian striker we mentioned could only be Mario Balotelli. The former AC Milan, Manchester City, and Liverpool hitman has never shied away from the spotlight, either on or off the field. He once famously revealed a “Why Always Me?” t-shirt after scoring in the Manchester Derby barely 24 hours on after setting off a bunch of fireworks in his bathroom, and he has also been known to be a menace in casinos.
He allegedly received a ban from a Manchester casino in 2011 after flashing £1,000 in cash. In addition, he has a history of betting on his own club, which is strictly prohibited in professional sports, and the same offense for which the aforementioned Toney was given a lengthy suspension.
Kyle Lafferty
A lesser-known football player who like gambling is the Northern Irish striker, who has played for teams including Rangers, Norwich City, and Sunderland. He received a £23,000 fine from the English FA in 2016 for breaking betting laws. According to rumors, like Toney and Super Mario before him, Lafferty had wagered on a game he was playing.
Wayne Rooney
The current manager of DC United and former captain of both Manchester United and England has been involved in more than his fair share of gambling scandals throughout the years. He was photographed in a casino in the early hours of the morning in 2017, while he was still an Everton player. Wazza is regularly spotted at racecourses betting on horse racing and it is thought that his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who is known to own numerous racehorses, may well have passed some of that love on to his former star striker.
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