UEFA may ban Zlatan Ibrahimovic for three years as the AC Milan striker is under investigation.
UEFA have appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to conduct an investigation into the Swedish striker’s financial activities.
He is being scrutinized by the football governing body for his (alleged) financial involvement with a betting company.
Bethard
Ibrahimovic, 39, is a part-owner of a betting company called Bethard, as reported by Aftonbladet, a Swedish newspaper.
The paper broke this story earlier this month, and also informed that Ibra teamed up with Bethard in 2018.
He said, back then: “I have obviously been intensively courted by betting companies throughout my career, but up until now I have not been presented to anything that has triggered me.”
“With Bethard, there was something different,” he went on. “It’s a company with Swedish roots, the founders are from my home town and they are true challengers who really wants to do things differently.”
The company’s words however, read in hindsight, sound fishy: “He will not only be an active ambassador for the brand, but also engage in the on-going development of the company’s offering.”
Indeed, Zlatan pops up first thing on Bethard’s home page, it what appears as a partnership for him to advertise the betting enterprise.
For his role as an ambassador for Bethard, Ibrahimovic has also appeared in a number of commercials for the firm.
FIFA Regulations
However, FIFA’s Code of Ethics clearly state that a player cannot have interests in betting institutions.
Per this ethical code, it could be construed as corrupt for them to financially invest in entities or companies that ‘promote, broker, arrange or conduct betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions connected with football matches and competitions’.
UEFA May Ban Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Three Years
Now, UEFA have opened up an investigation into the matter.
“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,” said a statement from UEFA.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course,” it added.
If found guilty, Ibrahimovic would have to pay a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs ($109,373) per FIFA’s regulations.
Not only this, he would also potentially be banned from any football related activity for a maximum of three years.
Last week Ibrahimovic signed a one-year contract extension with AC Milan, and plans on staying beyond his 40th birthday.
Ibrahimovic and Romelu Fined
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku clashed in their Coppa Italia quarter-final face-off three months ago on January 26.
The AC Milan and Inter strikers had a heated verbal spat, in which Ibra may have called Lukaku a monkey.
Now, both players have been fined for “unsportsmanlike behaviour with provocative phrases” and their respective clubs will also face punishments.
But because both players are receiving a €7000 fine combined, this penalty is a nominal one for the football stars.
