Sports
The controversy surrounding suspicious bets linked to the 2026 Ballon d'Or has taken a legal turn, as the Amaury Group, owner of "France Football" magazine, announced the initiation of legal proceedings to investigate suspicions of a leak regarding the final ranking of the award. This move follows unusual betting activity that accurately predicted the top five positions in the Ballon d'Or ranking, raising questions about whether some bettors had access to confidential information prior to the official announcement. Details indicate that 12 accounts were specifically created for this purpose, placing a total of $264,000 on the correct order of the top five spots, led by Harry Kane, followed by Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi. These bets yielded winnings close to €179,000, intensifying doubts about how such precise rankings were determined, although no leak or manipulation has been proven so far. The Amaury Group emphasized in a statement that the integrity of the Ballon d'Or is a top priority, stressing that the winner is chosen through an independent voting process. The statement added: "We take allegations regarding leaked results and potentially fraudulent bets very seriously. Investigations are underway to verify the facts and identify any possible responsibilities." Investigations by the platform "Upside" revealed indicators that raised further questions about the 12 accounts; seven had no prior betting history, and six placed their first bets just 15 minutes after being created. These findings remain under examination, awaiting clarification on whether the bets were based on leaked information or other factors, and whether any legal liabilities can be established.
