Sports betting has been a protagonist throughout the history of professional sport, but with new technologies the level of investment and development has increased exponentially. Although unleashing a scourge: the influence of betting on the protagonists, altering the natural development of events. Argentine football, and the AFAare now witnesses to a new scandal.
While there have already been some events involving Argentine clubs and players, especially in the promotion, in recent years, with bets, now another one became known. The club involved is Phoenixa team that plays in the First B Metropolitanthird category of Argentine football.
According to the Doble Amarilla portal, Fénix made the decision to kick out players from its reserve division team after a scandalous match in which the club lost 8-0 to Hikers when the referee decided to end the match early due to suspicious behaviour, according to the sports news portal.
“We made the decision the same day we played against Excursionistas”a Fénix manager told the aforementioned site. Although the contract terminations were not made official, the information exploded and unleashed a new controversy and scandal in the AFA due to betting in Argentine soccer.
Football betting and sanctioned players
Argentine football is no stranger to a global phenomenon. A few years ago, a similar scandal broke out in Brazil, but in the first division, which ended with footballers being sanctioned. Among them, an Argentine, Kevin Lomónacowho is now a player of Independent and has just scored a goal in his debut for the Rojo.
It also happens in Europe. In the Premier League Very important footballers have been sanctioned, such as Ivan Toneyinternational for the England national teamo Sandro Tonallimidfielder of the Italy national teamfor having engaged in illegal sports betting.
Although Fénix has not issued an official statement, nor has the AFA, the information is generating noise and setting off alarm bells in Argentine football. And in the coming weeks there could be more news about a controversy that is shaking national football and betting.