Sevilla star arrested under accusation of playing part in an ‘illegal betting network’ | OneFootball

A headline-grabbing story has come to the fore in Spanish football on Tuesday afternoon.

This comes amid confirmation that Sevilla star Kike Salas has been arrested under suspicion of forming part of an illegal betting network.

The news, first revealed by El Confidencial and since pushed by Mundo Deportivo, reveals that Kike was on Tuesday taken in by the National Police.

This comes in relation to suspicious activity on the part of the 22-year-old during the closing months of the 2023/24 La Liga campaign.

Of the ten yellow cards which he was shown in the league last season, seven came during the term’s final nine fixtures.

With many having come during the final minutes of matches, the allegation against Kike is that the defender was doing so on purpose, to aid sizable bets which had been agreed upon between the player and a group of others as part of an illegal betting ring.

Two other males, who are alleged to be part of Kike’s entourage, have also been arrested.

As per Mundo Deportivo, citing El Confidencial, should the Sevilla man be found guilty of the crimes of which he is accused:

‘Kike Salas could face a conviction for fraud, with sentences of between six months and three years in prison.’

Conor Laird – GSFN