There have been plenty of instances where footballers saw the chance for substantial profits through illicit activity. Most of them involve players that are not exactly at the top of the club preferences, with a somewhat lower career than they expected and with no prospects for the future. However, when an incident happens and the perpetrator is not only young and well-established, but also on the verge of being inducted into the big leagues, then the reasons why should be fully examined. Kike Salas’ arrest doesn’t concern just the fans or the future of online sports betting. It also concerns the future of the sport itself.
Kike Salas’ arrest: the protagonist
Enrique “Kike” Salas Valiente, is a 22-year-old central defender who has risen at Sevilla FC. Known for his commanding presence on the pitch, his defensive skills, and his tactical awareness. A man with an immediate future as he had already been picked to enter the ranks of Lazio. «Had» being the operative word, since his club rejected the offer as the proposal was to take effect after the end of the season, while Seville wanted an immediate sale.
So, when the police showed up in the club’s premises on January 14th with an arrest warrant to bring him in as a suspect, along with two other persons, for fraudulent yellow card wagers, it immediately sparkled questions. How could someone with such a bright future commit such a crime?
What is he charged with?
According to the report released after the arrest, the suspicions were raised after the realization that 7 out of the 10 yellow cards that Salas was shown, came within the final 10 minutes of the matches. Furthermore, the period of this happenstance lied after the club had escaped the danger of relegation. Therefore, he would not have to be so aggressive. In fact, he received a card in five out of the last six games, probably because he was substituted on the sixth due to injury.
The preliminary investigation yielded results where Salas, along with his alleged co-conspirators, had placed over 30 wagers in six bookmakers, in his home town Moron de la Frontera, for a total profit of about 10,000 Euros. Which raises even more questions. Not only why did he implicate himself in such an activity, but also why do it for such a small amount?
What's the punishment?
If he is found guilty, the fines can be in any amount from 3,000 to 30.000 Euros, there can be up to 3 years of incarceration and a banning from professional football for any period between 2 and 5 years. We can’t help but to compare this case with Lucas Paquetá’s yellow card scandal, threatening to end his career altogether with a lifetime expulsion from professional football. Which begs the question… Was it worth it?
However, there is also another issue to consider. Kike Salas’ arrest may also result in the banning of all Spanish football teams from the UEFA and FIFA tournaments. This is the reason that both Seville and the Spanish Association issued statements about their participation and full cooperation with the investigation. It’s well-known that the two ruling bodies want cases like this one handled by the national federations before the involvement of the legal system. It is also something we should keep a close watch on.
Is Kike Salas’ arrest just the tip of the iceberg?
Every investigation tries to uncover the reasons behind any action. Unfortunately, we can never be sure whether the ones revealed are the true ones or not. In any case, they provide an answer on the character and the mindset of the perpetrator. Mostly in an effort to understand and prevent future occurrences. And there have been a lot of them now.
Not that the answers matter that much to the fans and the bettors who decide to open an account at the best betting platform. What they need is to know that the sport is clean and the results are not a matter of manipulation. The rest is for the authorities to sort out and the psychologists to foresee.
