January 16, 2025 3 min read

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Sevilla Defender Kike Salas Under Investigation for Alleged Betting Fraud

On January 14, police detained Salas and two others on suspicion that he deliberately received yellow cards in matches to facilitate illegal betting profits

Spanish authorities are looking into claims that Sevilla FC’s 22-year-old defender Kike Salas played a part in a sports betting scandal

Kike Salas and Two Others Detained Over Alleged Yellow Card Betting Scheme

On January 14, police took Salas and two others into custody. They suspect he got yellow cards in games to help people make money from illegal bets. The police let all three go without charging them, but they are still looking into the matter, reported The Guardian.

Word got out that the probe kicked off in December 2024 when Spain’s Public Prosecutor’s Office spotted odd betting trends. People say two of Salas’s buddies put down about 30 bets raking in around €10,000 ($10,283), by betting on his yellow cards during games. These bets were said to be placed at different bookies in Morón de la Frontera where Salas grew up.

Salas’s play in the previous season caught people’s eye towards the end of La Liga. He got seven yellow cards in his last nine games. This happened when Sevilla was safe from relegation so their matches did not matter as much. He often got these cards late in games, with three coming in the 88th and 94th minutes. At first, no one noticed these incidents. Most cards were for fouls, but one came from a fight with another player.

Kike Salas Faces Potential Jail Time, Fines, and Ban Amid Betting Scandal

If proven guilty, Salas could face tough penalties. These include jail time from six months to three years, fines between €3,006 ($3,092) and €30,051 ($30,906), and a ban from soccer for up to five years. La Liga plans to join the legal case and stresses its goal to keep the sport clean. The league uses cutting-edge systems to watch betting and teach players about the risks of fixing matches.

Sevilla FC says they will follow the court process and treat Salas as innocent until proven guilty. Still, they speak out against any cheating in sports. Even with the ongoing probe, Salas came back to practice on January 15. The club has not taken any steps to punish him yet.

The case brings to mind similar claims against West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who is also being looked into for possible betting-related wrongdoing. If found guilty, both players might face big consequences that could end their careers. Salas is a player who has been with Sevilla since he was 11 and he has also just signed a new contract with the club lasting until 2029.

Silvia has dabbled in all sorts of writing – from content writing for social media to movie scripts. She has a Bachelor's in Screenwriting and experience in marketing and producing documentary films. With her background as a customer support agent within the gambling industry, she brings valuable insight to the Gambling News writers’ team.

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