Swiss Gambling Regulator Files Criminal Complaint Against FIFA

Gespa, the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority, has filed a criminal complaint against FIFA’s blockchain-based NFT platform, FIFA Collect, alleging it engages in illegal gambling activities through the proliferation and tradability of its digital tokens.

FIFA Under Legal Fire from Gespa

Gespa reported it became aware of the platform in early October 2025 and determined that it offers monetary rewards based on random mechanisms or similar chance-based systems. The complaint, submitted to Swiss prosecutors, follows an investigation into the digital collectibles platform hosted at collect.fifa.com. Gespa stated that certain features on the site, such as “drops” and “challenges”, qualify as forms of gambling under Swiss law because they involve monetary payments and outcomes influenced by chance.

FIFA Collect is part of FIFA’s broader initiative to integrate blockchain technology into fan engagement. The platform allows users to buy, trade, and interact with digital collectibles linked to global football events. However, its introduction of challenge-based features, which sees users pay to participate and potentially win exclusive prizes, has drawn regulatory scrutiny. The reliance on chance to distribute rewards is a critical factor that brings the platform under the scope of Swiss gambling law.

In accordance with Switzerland’s Federal Act on Gambling, Gespa said it was legally obligated to report potential violations to criminal authorities. While Swiss prosecutors will make the final legal determination, Gespa noted that it may be asked to support the ongoing investigation. The regulator declined to share further details, citing the confidentiality of the legal process.

What Is FIFA Collect and Why Its Tokens Are a Problem?

The controversy surrounding FIFA Collect coincides with FIFA’s broader move toward blockchain-driven fan engagement, most notably through its “Right to Buy” token initiative launched in 2024. Marketed as a groundbreaking innovation, the tokens offered fans priority access to purchase tickets for the 2026 World Cup.

By acquiring these tokens, fans secured a guaranteed opportunity to buy tickets for selected matches as soon as sales opened, sidestepping FIFA’s usual lottery-based and phased ticket distribution system. Additionally, the tokens could be traded or sold on secondary marketplaces, with resale prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

However, the speculative aspect of these transactions, especially given their reliance on future match assignments, has prompted some experts to liken the token system to gambling, as both outcomes and resale values are influenced by the unpredictable nature of the tournament. As such, the practice remains in Gespa’s focus and a main part of its recent complaint.