Sevilla defender Kike Salas, a Spanish U21 international, is under investigation for allegedly receiving deliberate yellow cards in matches last season as part of a betting scam. If convicted, the 21-year-old faces a prison sentence of six months to three years.
Spanish police are scrutinizing a series of suspicious incidents from the final weeks of the 2023/24 season, during which Sevilla had little at stake. Authorities suspect Salas intentionally committed fouls to benefit accomplices wagering on his yellow cards.
The probe centres on seven yellow cards Salas received in the season’s last nine games, accounting for most of his total of ten bookings that season. Suspicion is heightened by the timing of several cards: one came in the 88th minute and two others in the 94th minute. Investigators believe these late-game bookings were deliberate, enabling at least two accomplices to profit from bets placed on such occurrences.
Salas, who joined Sevilla’s youth academy at age 11 and has made 54 appearances for the club, has denied any wrongdoing. He has represented Spain at the U21 level, earning two caps, and in December 2024, extended his Sevilla contract until 2029. However, the allegations have cast a shadow over his career and could implicate other players, as Spanish authorities have not ruled out wider involvement.
The player has only recently renewed his contract with the club for a reputedly 360,000 euros per year.
The accusations bear resemblance to those against West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who is also under investigation for alleged gambling breaches. Paquetá has been accused of deliberately picking up yellow cards in Premier League games against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Bournemouth between November 2022 and August 2023. Despite one bet being worth just £7, the FA has taken a strict stance, pushing for a lifetime ban for the Brazilian.
The FA has previously demonstrated a zero-tolerance policy on gambling violations, notably banning Brentford striker Ivan Toney for eight months after he breached betting regulations. The governing body aims to maintain the integrity of the sport, and these cases serve as high-profile examples of the serious consequences players face for any involvement in betting-related misconduct.
Salas now awaits the outcome of the investigation, which could lead to severe legal and professional repercussions. The case underscores football’s ongoing battle against corruption and the need for vigilance to preserve the game’s fairness.
