Last month, Major League Soccer (MLS) indefinitely suspended Sporting Kansas City midfielder Felipe Hernandez for violating league gambling policy. It was his second suspension for the same relative breach of code, the first of which occurred in 2021. While suspension for violating sports betting policy in soccer certainly doesn’t garner the same press in the U.S. as it does when NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL players are involved, footballers gambling may be problematic on a far larger scale.
Not only is soccer (or football / futbol) the most popular professional sport in the world, it is the fastest growing on American soil. Attendance at MLS games has been steadily increasing for eight consecutive years, with Lionel Messi’s 2023 arrival in Miami fueling the flame. This pattern of growth is expected to persist as research confirms that U.S.soccer fans are younger and more diverse than those who closely follow the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Consequently, you can expect to hear more stories like Hernandez’s as the years progress. Ongoings in MLS will likely align with international football leagues which have already been plagued by problem gambling among players. Read ahead for a summary of why soccer players, teams, and leagues may require special focus as casino gaming and sports betting runs rampant on the pitch.
Overview of Problem Gambling Among Professional Footballers / Soccer Players
Footballers Gambling Policy
There are more than 200 professional soccer leagues around the world, and every one of them has a gambling policy in place. We’re not going to list them all in this assessment, but the following are examples of what policy from the largest governing bodies looks like.
Professional Footballers Association (PFA)
The PFA is the world’s oldest professional sport trade union. Their Gambling Policy is admirably written in plain language for players to understand:
DON’T BET ON IT
“The main message for players is: ‘You are not allowed to place ANY bet on ANY football, ANYWHERE! This covers any football match or competition, wherever it is played in the world. You cannot bet on any global football market at any level, even on aspects that aren’t related to gameplay, for example the next manager of a club.”
DON’T PASS IT ON
“You are not allowed to pass on information that gives somebody else a betting advantage, and they cannot place bets on your behalf. Any knowledge you have which is not publicly available, such as information about an injury, team selection or transfer news, is considered inside information. The rules are clear - you cannot share this information with anyone verbally, on social media or in any other way. If someone asks you to provide inside information, you must notify The FA’s Integrity Team immediately.”
PROTECT THE GAME
“Offering or accepting bribes or gifts in exchange for influencing the result of a match is extremely serious. It is against FA rules and may be a criminal offence. If you are approached about match fixing, or suspect that someone you know has been approached about or is involved in match fixing, you must report it to The FA immediately. Failure to report these incidents could result in an FA charge against you. If you are not sure what to do, you can speak to the PFA in confidence.
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
MLS is recognized as the primary professional soccer league in the United States and is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), which is a member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). FIFA has an umbrella Gambling Policy that governs all of its members. The Code stipulates that officials, referees, players as well as match agents and intermediaries are forbidden from the following:
- Participating in, either directly or indirectly (for a friend or family member, etc.) betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions related to football matches or competitions and/or any related football activities.
- Having any interests, either directly or indirectly (through or in conjunction with third parties), in entities, companies, and organizations that promote, broker, arrange or conduct betting, gambling, lotteries or similar events or transactions connected with football matches and competitions
Violations can lead to a fine of at least CHF 100,000 (more than $110,000 USD) and a ban on taking part in any soccer/football related activity for a maximum of three years.
When you take FIFA’s international governing code together with PFA and individual league policies, one may think that players have a clear understanding – and notable fear – of what may occur if they violate policy. Results may indicate otherwise.
Professional Footballers Recently Suspended for Gambling Violations
The list of professional soccer players who have been recently suspended for violating gambling policy is extensive. Notable players (and the league they play/played for when suspended) include the following:
- Andros Townsend (Premier League)
- Cameron Jerome (EFL League One)
- Harry Toffolo (Premier League)
- Ivan Toney (Premier League)
- Kieran Trippier (Premier League)
- Max Alves (MLS)
- Sandro Tonali (Premier League)
- Ulises Dávila and teammates Clayton Lewis / Kearyn Baccus (A-League)
In addition to the MLS situation regarding Felipe Hernandez, there are other current events that are plaguing professional soccer. Brazil’s Lucas Paqueta is currently fighting a Football Association (FA) charge for alleged betting breaches. In the spring of 2024, Paqueta was charged by the FA with four separate instances of spot-fixing, an instance where a player agrees to influence a certain part of a match, such as receiving a yellow card, rather than trying to fix the final score. Paqueta is currently allowed to play until the investigation has concluded, but former non-league footballer Kynan Isaac is watching the case closely. In 2022, Isaac was banned for a career-ending 10 years for spot fixing. Meanwhile, players like EFL Championship club Luton Town’s Andros Townsend have been vocal about their struggles with gambling disorder (GD). Despite some being open about their struggles with GD, others have practically celebrated their involvement to global audiences on social networks. Keep reading.
Culture of Footballers Gambling
A culture of gambling behavior exists in soccer, and when advocated by the sport’s super stars, influence akin to peer pressure may encourage young and upcoming players to participate. Look no further than the actions of Neymar da Silva Santos who’s relationship with gambling is well documented:
The disturbing video above represents no one-off occurrence, as Neymar has made light of losing €1M (nearly $1.1 million USD) on while broadcasting live on Twitch.
Vitriol against Neymar’s publicized gambling habit has been palpable. And while it’s easy to chalk it up as reckless behavior of the rich and famous (which could be the case) the culture of gambling among soccer’s elite may be steeped in something deeper.
Other Factors That Make Footballers Prone to Gambling
Research has shown that elite athletes are more vulnerable to GD than the general population. They exhibit personality traits that are related to problematic casino gaming and sports betting. These personality traits are generally as evident in elite footballers as they are in NCAA, NFL, NBA, and MLB athletes. Further, the international nature of soccer adds another layer of complexity to what may make players more vulnerable to developing GD. Players come from all corners of the world to join leagues, and may bring with them a greater acceptance of gambling behavior. If gambling is a normalized activity in their home country, internal beliefs may override what another nation may see as moralistic grounds to abstain, in addition to documented league policies against certain types of gambling. On the latter note, banning some types of gambling (i.e. soccer betting) to protect the integrity of a league does not address the underlying concern of problematic gambling behavior of athletes. Some may argue that allowing other forms of gambling makes leagues complicit in the development of problem gambling among its elite. When considering everything above regarding footballer propensity towards concerning gambling behavior, the question of whether or not they should be allowed to gamble at all is a reasonable one to ask.
Footballers Gambling Influence on Fan Base
Further demanding a better strategy to manage soccer players’ relationships with gambling, is the influence they have on a population that is vulnerable to developing gambling disorder. A survey conducted by U.S. research firm Simmons finds that approximately 44% of MLS fans are between the ages of 21 and 39. Reports released earlier in the year have confirmed that young American males between the ages of 25-34 (smack dab in the middle of the MLS fan base) are exhibiting higher rates of GD.
Until things are fixed at a foundational level, impressionable individuals who are vulnerable to problem gambling might consider adding certain footballers to their list of celebrities to unfollow on social media.
What Needs to be Done
Early intervention may be the most critical call to action in nipping the future of problematic footballer gambling in the bud in North America. MLS Next, which takes a collaborative approach to governance and innovation for the benefit of player development, works to provide young players with access to education and training that best prepares them for futures on and off the pitch. They have included a gambling policy in their most recent Code of Conduct. Anything that includes gambling behavior in the narrative is a good place to start, but more needs to be done. The following initiatives are required to protect players, teams, leagues, and sport integrity from the threat of problem gambling:
- Early intervention education for young soccer players.
- Mental health screenings (including for GD) as players enter elite levels.
- Ongoing semi-seasonal player education on league gambling policy.
- Integration of dedicated GD treatment in mental health support platforms as part of team/league player services.
Footballers concerned about their relationship with gambling in addition to teams, leagues, and stakeholders in the U.S. and Canada (ON) are encouraged to reach out to Kindbridge to discuss GD treatment options. The contacts provided below will connect you to a care coordinator or the appropriate personnel.
Kick Problem Gambling off the Pitch with Kindbridge
CALL +1 (877) 426-4258
OR
Email [email protected]
