Zlatan Ibrahimovic fined by Uefa over financial interest in betting company
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been fined €50,000 (£43,175) for breaking Uefa rules by having a financial interest in a betting company. The Swedish forward avoided a playing ban while his club, Milan, were also fined €25,000 (£21,590) for violating the same article of Uefa’s disciplinary regulations.
An official Uefa statement confirmed Ibrahimovic has been fined “€50,000 for violating Article 12(2)(b) of the Uefa Disciplinary Regulations (DR), ie for having a financial interest in a betting company.
“The chairman of the Uefa appeals body also issued Mr Ibrahimovic with a directive aimed at ceasing the player’s association with the relevant betting company,” the statement added.
Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported in April that Ibrahimovic has retained a financial interest in the Malta-based betting company Bethard, after becoming part-owner in 2018. According to Fifa regulations, Ibrahimovic could have faced a maximum sanction of a three-year ban from football.
Ibrahimovic came out of international retirement for Sweden in March, but will miss Euro 2020 with a knee injury. The 39-year-old has signed a one-year contract extension with Milan after scoring 17 goals for the Italian side last season.
Uefa rejects Kudela appeal against 10-game ban
The Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela will miss Euro 2020 after Uefa rejected his appeal against a 10-game ban for racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
The Czech Republic international will not be available for this summer’s tournament, which begins against Scotland at Hampden on June 14. The Czechs will also face England and Croatia in Group D.
Uefa has stood firm on its punishment after finding Kudela guilty of shouting a racial slur into Kamara’s ear during a Europa League tie at Ibrox in March. Uefa confirmed Kudela will miss “the next 10 club and representative team competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible to play, for racist behaviour.”