"The players know: obviously, they should not bet. In football, in rugby, in any sport. When something happens, there are obviously investigations and very serious, very stringent decisions are made regarding betting. And football, at all levels, including amateur," commented the president of FIFA.
Infantino was asked about specific cases but avoided naming names. However, the FIFA president emphasized that each incident should be investigated seriously to avoid premature judgments.
"If someone committed an act against sports rules, it is obvious that there will be sanctions. Now, each situation is different; it should not be trivialized and should be judged accordingly."
Recently, players in England and Italy have faced harsh punishments for engaging in sports betting. Toney from Brentford, Tonali from Newcastle, and Fagioli from Juventus are examples of athletes punished for betting.
The case of Brazilian Lucas Paquetá, however, is different. The West Ham midfielder is accused by the English Federation of receiving four yellow cards in favor of a third-party sports bet. After the accusation, an independent panel is reviewing the 2,000-page case and may issue a punishment, which can be appealed.
For Infantino, besides punishing those involved, it is crucial to work on the prevention and education of athletes about the risks and consequences of sports betting. He highlights the need for a culture of integrity, where all participants in the sport understand and respect the established rules to ensure that football remains fair and enjoyable for everyone.
Source: GMB / ge
