See what FIFA says about bets made by football players

Betting on football matches is almost as old as the sport itself, and in recent years there has been a huge increase in the number of sports betting sites. These companies have grown so big that they sponsor some of the biggest clubs around the world. In the Brasileirão, the situation is no different. However, when a player who takes part in a football match bets, the integrity of the sport is put in check, which is treated seriously by FIFA.

Recently, the Grêmio Ferreira player became known for registering a public bet on football. The striker shared on his social networks an image that showed a bet made on a victory for Tricolor over Caxias in the first leg of the final of the Campeonato Gaúcho – which ended up in a 1-1 draw.

Exposure of your bet on Instagram can have negative consequences for the player. This is because FIFA, in its Code of Ethics, explicitly prohibits individuals involved with sport from participating in betting.

The controversial bet made by Ferreira

Ferreira’s social media post sparked controversy over partnerships between players and bookmakers. Last Saturday, during the final of the Campeonato Gaúcho between Grêmio and Caxias, the player placed a bet worth R$ 500, made on the website ‘Esportes da Sorte’. The bet was on the team’s own victory, although Ferreira was injured and did not participate in the match.

In an interview with GE, the player’s agent, Pablo Bueno, said that it was an advertisement for the company, which sponsors the athlete and the club from Rio Grande do Sul. The bookmaker stated that other partner people also posted the same voucher.

Those involved denied that the voucher was a bet made by the player himself, which is prohibited by FIFA. The entity stipulates a fine of “at least 100,000 Swiss francs” (equivalent to around R$ 550,000) and the possibility of banning football for up to three years for players, referees and officials who bet on football matches.