Sevilla centre-back arrested for sports betting fraud
Newspaper ‘El Confidencial’ reports that Kike Salas allegedly forced yellow cards to benefit friends
Kike Salas , Sevilla ‘s central defender , was arrested this Tuesday.
According to the newspaper El Confidencial, he is suspected of having caused yellow cards to be shown in his team’s games so that acquaintances of his could make money from bets last season.
Two other people, who are allegedly part of the 22-year-old’s inner circle, are also being investigated. The player is alleged to have agreed to force yellow cards in official league games so that his friends could place bets and win.
The investigation into a crime of fraud is being carried out by a court in Seville.
Kike Salas has received 10 yellow cards in the 2023/24 season. Of these, he has received 7 in the last 9 matches, making him the player with the most yellow cards in that period. In fact, he was unable to play in the 32nd matchday due to serving a one-match suspension for accumulating yellow cards. Most of these cards came in the final moments of the games.
In December, the player renewed his contract until 2029, but if he is accused he faces a sentence of between 6 months and 3 years in prison.
The case is similar to that of Brazilian Lucas Paquetá, accused by the English federation of having forced yellow cards in English Premier League games so that family members could manipulate bets in Brazil.
