Samuel Eto’o, a globally recognizable soccer player with an extensive career, was appointed to the role of president of the Cameroon Football Federation, Fecafoot, near the end of 2021. The outstanding athlete with a lustrous career has played for England, Italy and Spain and has four African Player of the Year Awards along with two Africa Cup of Nations Titles while with Cameroon, among other recognitions and awards.

Despite his achievements and extensive career in the sport, Eto’o was tangled in a scandal with claims related to abuse of power, match-fixing and even threats of violence against people who did not agree with his intentions, a newly released report claims. On Wednesday, The Athletic announced it received a wide range of alleged evidence, including letters, emails, WhatsApp messages and sound recordings accusing Fecafoot’s president of the aforementioned unlawful activities.

Reportedly, the information was supplied by Henry Njalla Quan Junior, Fecafoot’s former vice president. The aforementioned details were also sent to FIFA’s Ethics Committee last summer, while an investigation into the matter by Africa’s football federation, CAF, is reportedly ongoing.

Previously, CAF confirmed that it is investigating different claims against Fecafoot’s president. Despite that, according to The Athletic, while CAF continues to investigate this matter, Eto’o is “presumed to be innocent until an appropriate judicial body concludes otherwise.”

Allegations about Match-Fixing, Favoritism

Some of the supplied messages, audio recordings and emails by Njalla Quan Junior are indirect or anonymous. Notably, the former Fecafoot vice president alleged that Eto’o was involved in match-fixing activities. According to the data supplied by Njalla Quan Junior, one of the match-fixing incidents involved a team he owns, Njalla Quan Sports Academy (NQSA).

He claimed that NQSA’s match against Kumba City FC was orchestrated by Eto’o. Njalla Quan Junior said that the aforementioned match was “the most scandalous… in the history of mankind,” claiming that Eto’o provided instructions to referees via a phone that was on speaker during the half-time of the first leg.

Supporting his claims, Njalla Quan Junior said that they were based on discussions with an anonymous third party. After the two legs, Kumba City FC ultimately won against NQSA with a score of 3-1.

Additionally, Njalla Quan Junior alleged that Valentine Nkwain, the owner of Victoria United, was given assurances by Eto’o that his team would be promoted to a higher division. In a recording, Eto’o allegedly promised that “there are things” that can be done for Nkwain’s team. Victoria United went on to win 11 out of their 17 matches, actions that ultimately bumped the team to the first division.

Eto’o has previously denied any wrongdoing. Yet, the ongoing investigations and the serious accusations put Fecafoot’s president in a difficult position.

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Brazil’s proposed ban on sports betting advertising doesn’t sit well with professional soccer clubs. Teams expressed their opposition to the measure by sending a letter to the Senate, hoping to convince it not to include the ban in the final version of Brazil’s sports betting bill.

Under the ban, which is envisioned as a part of Brazil’s sports wagering legislation, operators will be unable to advertise across stadiums or sign sponsorship deals with teams. However, clubs argue that the ban would deprive them of a major revenue stream and may have an overall negative impact on the sector.

The soccer clubs’ letter was sent on November 10 and signed by a total of 33 teams. The letter outlines the organizations’ concerns about the measure. The signatories include many big local clubs.

Gambling sponsorships provide major sporting organizations with important funding that helps them maintain and expand their operations.

Brazil Sports Betting Continues to Get Delayed

Brazil’s proposed ban is a part of the country’s sports betting bill. The ban was added as a proposed amendment and has been actively promoted by Senator Eduardo Girão who argues that advertising exposes people to harm. Other proponents of the ban also say that the measure will help Brazil tackle problem gambling and mitigate gambling-related crime.

The Senate is now responsible for deciding whether the ban proposal should be sent to the Chamber of Deputies. The discussions may very well lead to further delays to Brazil’s already long overdue sports betting legislation.

While the country is already on the path to legalizing wagering on sports, regulatory matters continue to stall the launch of a regulated market. While there were hints that progress is being made, the latest developments imply that it would be at least a few more months before Brazilians can wager legally.

Speaking of advertisements, in late October, Brazil published a comprehensive set of requirements for operators, which include the regulation of advertising near schools and universities. Operators are also prohibited from implying that gambling can lead to personal success or improved financial conditions. In addition, companies must promote responsible play.

In the meantime, gambling taxes remain another contentious subject. Earlier this year, the IBJR spoke out against the latest sports betting tax proposals.

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Polish sports data company STATSCORE announced that it is now offering in-depth player analytics for many of Europe’s top-flight soccer leagues, including LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A, among others.

The launch of these new analytics aligns with STATSCORE’s commitment to providing a 360-degree view of soccer games and constantly enhancing the data delivered to its partners.

According to STATSCORE’s announcement, in-depth player live data and statistics will be available in the company’s ScoutsFeed and SportsAPI products. The data company listed the full number of soccer leagues it will be offering in-depth player analytics for, which include the following:

• UEFA Champions League
• Europe League
• LaLiga
• Bundesliga
• Serie A
• French Ligue 1
• Süper Lig
• Super League 1

Thanks to the new launch, STATSCORE will now offer coverage of key player incidents, such as goals, penalties and shots. This will provide fans with a unique perspective on the sports action, bolstering their engagement.

The New Data Will Benefit Sportsbooks

Player information will include real-time data on aspects like the ways in which a goal is scored. This, for example, will include left foot/right foot, header, scored within the penalty area or outside and specific part of the net in which the ball was hit.

STATSCORE announced that it has applied the same approach to incidents. As a result, STATSCORE clients will be able to provide their players with information on when and how a penalty was scored, saved or missed.

STATSCORE added that the in-depth player data will help betting operators and other sports-oriented businesses engage their players and provide them with detailed information they care about.

According to the Polish data specialist, the new datasets will allow sports and sports betting aficionados to “delve deeper into the statistics that define the game.”

This type of data provides an opportunity to craft brand-new betting options that would appeal to a diverse range of betting enthusiasts. It’s no longer just about predicting the outcome of a match – it’s about predicting specific aspects of player performance!

STATSCORE statement

The company concluded that the new data is a great way to make match coverage, analysis, and commentary more engaging and informative.

Exactly a month ago, STATSCORE extended its data partnership with the Slovenian PrvaLiga.

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A recent case involving an unnamed English professional soccer manager has raised eyebrows as the Football Association (FA) decided not to sanction the individual despite evidence of substantial gambling activity. The manager’s betting activities came to light during an alleged blackmail case, further complicating the situation. The FA’s leniency starkly contrasts its recent punishment of high-profile players, garnering significant criticism.

The Alleged Offender Placed Regular Wagers

The manager’s identity remains protected by a court order regarding a 2022 blackmail case, which saw him accuse two professional soccer players, Alan Rogers and Steven Jennings, of extorting him. Both athletes denied the charges, and the manager ultimately withdrew his allegations, stating he wished to move on with his life.

However, court documents regarding the extortion case revealed the unnamed manager had engaged in extensive gambling, wagering £879,000 ($1.1 million) over two years. During this time, he incurred losses of £270,000 ($334,000). His bets notably extended to soccer matches within his league, but the data shows he did not bet on his team.

Such gambling behavior is strictly prohibited and can result in severe punishments. The FA has significantly tightened its enforcement policy, making its decision to pardon the manager highly puzzling. The Association likely decided that taking action could reveal the manager’s identity and risk legal action. However, this lack of enforcement has given rise to accusations of double standards and inconsistent enforcement.

Athletes Faced Harsh Punishments for Much Less

The FA’s renewed focus on sports integrity saw it sanction several high-profile athletes like Harry Toffolo, Chris Maguire, and Ivan Toney. The athletes may face significant repercussions for their careers, highlighting the Association’s focus on preventing potential conflicts of interest and maintaining a level playing field for all participants. 

By strictly enforcing these regulations, the FA hoped to demonstrate it would not tolerate any attempts to undermine the sport’s integrity. However, the decision not to sanction the unnamed manager severely undermines the Association’s image and casts a negative light on its harsh policies. The FA likely had valid reasons to avoid pressing the issue, but other offending individuals may attempt to use this ruling to avoid sanctions.

Although the contrast with the strict punishment meted out to Ivan Toney has fueled controversy and raised questions about the transparency and fairness of the FA’s approach, sports integrity must remain a priority. This case should prompt the Association to implement new policies and ensure that similar offenses cannot avoid sanctions in the future, promoting fairness and transparency.

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STATSCORE, the leading provider of high-quality sports data, live sports statistics and software covering some of the most popular sports, expanded its data coverage by including more Latin American soccer competitions. Only recently, the company boosted its cricket data offering with the addition of the famous 2023 Asia Cup.

Now, acknowledging the importance of soccer for the Latin American region, the company revealed it significantly extended its coverage for more competitions within the region. The leading provider of sports data confirmed that it broadened the coverage to include competitions from countries, including Argentina and Brazil, among others.

The increased coverage applies to STATSCORE’s ScoutsFeed product. Partner companies that leverage the innovative product can access live data widgets such as LivematchPro, among other features that will be available for an increased number of competitions.

Adam Działach, STATSCORE’s product manager, explained that the company remains committed to delivering expanded data feeds for its partners within the media and betting vertical. Finally, he pointed out: “With the Latin American market growing, we’re excited about this latest expansion, which will certainly meet growing demands for more in-depth coverage of the region’s top football competitions.”

“At STATSCORE, we’re dedicated to expanding the data we offer to our sports betting and media partners.“

Adam Działach, product manager at STATSCORE

Thanks to the recent announcement STATSCORE’s online media, betting, broadcasters and other sports-facing partners will benefit from broadened coverage that will include strategic details from soccer competitions. Such data will include goals, corners, assists, offsides, yellow cards, attacks, shots on/off target and many more. Without any doubt, stakeholders within the sports sector will see the benefits of STATSCORE’s expanded coverage for Latin American soccer competitions.

This move doesn’t come as a surprise, considering the soaring popularity of soccer in the region. Additionally, many Latin American countries are recognized around the globe for their passionate soccer fan bases that continue to grow with each year.

Recently, STATSCORE expanded once again its soccer coverage amid the growing popularity of Saudi Soccer. Early last month, the company confirmed that it expanded its betting data with the addition of different Asian leagues. This once again reaffirmed STATSCORE’s leadership role in delivering reliable sports data for stakeholders within the sector.

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Evoplay’s newest title creates a unique and engaging gaming experience, leveraging soccer’s timeless popularity to appeal to sports and classic casino fans. Penalty Roulette transports players to a virtual soccer stadium where they can bet on roulette-style options while enjoying the adrenaline rush of a penalty shoot-out. This new title enhances Evoplay’s successful portfolio, adding to the studio’s growing list of hits.

Penalty Roulette Metrics

• Game Type: Instant Game
• Main Game: 48
• Max Bet USD: 1000 (single bet) / 35 000 (multi bet)
• Max Bet EUR: 750 (single bet) 26 250 (multi bet)
• Max Win USD: 66 000
• Max Win EUR: 49 500
• Min Bet USD: 1
• Max Bet EUR: 1

The Game Appeals to Sports and Casino Fans

Roulette is a beloved classic in the world of casino gaming, and Evoplay has put a fresh spin on it by infusing it with the thrilling elements of soccer. Players will find familiar roulette-style betting options, but instead of traditional numbers, they’ll have the chance to bet on soccer-themed outcomes, adding an extra layer of excitement and engagement to the game.

Penalty Roulette’s multi-bet capabilities can award a lucky player over 48 times their initial wager. The game captures the essence of a real penalty shoot-out, with players eagerly anticipating the outcome of each spin as if it were a crucial match moment. Evoplay CEO Ivan Kravchuk was excited regarding the new title, hoping it would capture players’ imaginations.

Reinventing the live casino favorite as we know it and capturing the thrill of a football match (Penalty Roulette)’s mass appeal makes it a fantastic new addition to our Football Pack.

Ivan Kravchuk, Evoplay CEO

The new title follows Evoplay’s prior successful soccer-themed titles like Penalty Shoot-out Street and Long Ball, hoping to introduce sports fans to the wonders of iGaming. Penalty Roulette’s user-friendly interface and intuitive gameplay make it suitable for players of all levels of expertise so everyone can enjoy the adrenaline-pumping experience.

The Developer Remains Committed to Excellence

Evoplay has built a solid reputation for delivering cutting-edge and immersive gaming experiences. The studio has received widespread recognition for its innovative approach, earning prestigious awards and accolades within the iGaming industry. The success of Evoplay’s Football Pack has been outstanding, receiving widespread acclaim from players and industry professionals.

Capitalizing on the lingering excitement after the 2023 FIFA World Cup, Penalty Roulette is a testament to Evoplay’s commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional gaming experiences. The game presents a compelling fusion proving that creativity and ingenuity are key to success and is sure to score big with players worldwide.

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Hard Rock International has unveiled a new partnership with its global brand ambassador, Lionel Messi. According to the announcement, the company will work with the soccer star on a new namesake menu item.

The new item will be a Messi Chicken Sandwich that was “Made For You by Leo Messi.” The dish is inspired by the Milanesa, one of the Argentinean player’s favorite foods.

The new item is described as a “Milanese style” sandwich, with its release coinciding with Messi’s historic entrance into Major League Soccer and his foray into South Florida, which houses the Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

The Milanesa is an Argentinean staple Messi grew up with. Hard Rock’s sandwich version features a crispy Milanese-style chicken breast topped with melted provolone cheese and herbed aioli. The dish also features tomatoes, arugula and a toasted artisan bun. According to Hard Rock, the new item will provide “a winning bite every time.”

The Messi Chicken Sandwich will be available at participating Hard Rock Cafe locations and Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos via in-room dining worldwide starting today.

Hard Rock International celebrated the release of the new item with a new commercial directed by Marco Grandia and the Yes, We’re Open agency. The video is called “Something New is Cooking” and stars Messi. By scanning a unique QR code, fans can hear a welcome message from the soccer star himself and access unique 360 digital experiences, trivia games and more.

Messi Wants to Share the Milanesa with the Rest of the World

Lionel Messi commented on the new collaboration with Hard Rock, sharing his excitement to bring the flavors of Argentina to the rest of the world. He praised Hard Rock International for being the best partner to bring this project to life.

Like any great teammate, Hard Rock has been with me through historic milestones, and I can’t wait for my fans all over the world to get a taste of one of my childhood favorites that still makes me feel at home, wherever in the world I am.

Lionel Messi, brand ambassador, Hard Rock International

Jim Allen, Hard Rock International’s chairman, commented on the partnership with the soccer star. He lauded Messi as one of the greatest athletes and a major cultural icon. In addition to that, Allen noted, Messi is a Hard Rock ambassador whose values align with the company’s.

We are extremely honored to partner with someone who embodies the champion and winning spirit in all facets of his professional and personal life, and we look forward to welcoming him to the U.S. as part of our extended Hard Rock family.

Jim Allen, chair, Hard Rock International

Previously, Hard Rock and Messi teamed up to release a Messi Burger that has since become a fan favorite. The burger’s launch celebrated Messi’s world championship run and historic win. The release is a part of the company’s “LIVE GREATNESS” campaign.

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A week after signing a partnership with the VBA, Genius Sports, a company at the heart of the sports data ecosystem, has unveiled an expansion of its integrity cooperation with the German Football Association (DFB). Together, the two parties will protect the integrity of professional soccer and will stand united against the threats of match-fixing and betting-related corruption.

Genius Sports first joined forces with the German Football Association in 2019, when it agreed to provide it with its cutting-edge Bet Monitoring System. The system analyzes global odds movements from more than 7,500 games a year. Thanks to special algorithms, the solution is able to instantly identify potentially suspicious betting activity.

Under the expanded partnership, the DFB will still receive the constant monitoring and analysis Genius Sports offers. In addition to that, the association has now further reinforced its protection against corruption by leveraging Genius Sports’ Intelligence platform, provided in partnership with Clue.

As a result, the soccer body will now be able to spot suspicious patterns faster. The DFB will also enjoy increased visibility of threats to players, match officials and coaches. Thanks to Genius Sports’ global intelligence and transparency tools, the DFB will be able to better manage the risks across professional German soccer.

Finally, Genius Sports’ Intelligence system will provide the DFB with a centralized vault for all integrity reports. This will make investigations smoother while ensuring a fruitful partnership between the two parties.

The Deal Will Help the DFB Secure the Integrity of German Soccer

Eva Immerheiser, integrity officer at the DFB, highlighted the importance of protecting the integrity of soccer from gambling-related corruption and fraud. She said that the current deal is an opportunity to make fraud detection easier.

In the continuation of the cooperation with Genius as well as the intelligence upgrade with Clue, we see the opportunity to detect possible illicit patterns faster and to be able to intervene at an early stage. We look forward to working with Genius on a new level.

Eva Immerheiser, integrity officer, DFB

Simon Martyn, Genius Sports’ director of rights enforcement and integrity, also commented on the matter. He said that his company’s partners require constant vigilance and product enhancements to keep up with the concerning fraud rates. He added that the current deal with the DFB will supply the association with everything it needs to protect German games from betting fraud.

By expanding our cooperation with the DFB, we will provide rich intelligence, analysis and visibility to help protect one of the largest and most prestigious football associations in the world.

Simon Martyn, director of rights enforcement and integrity, Genius Sports

A month ago, Genius Sports also joined forces with the European League of Football, securing exclusive rights to capture, manage and distribute official ELF data.

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SBC News reported that IMG Arena filed a lawsuit against Stats Perform over alleged breaches of exclusive data collection rights during Austrian, Czech, German, Greek, and Swiss soccer matches.

Stats Perform Accused of Breaching IMG Arena’s Exclusive Data Collection Rights

In the claim, IMG Arena alleges that Stats Perform has been operating an unauthorized network of data collectors or scouts to obtain real-time data from matches that are covered under IMG Arena’s exclusive soccer license. The suit further alleges that the unauthorized scouts collected betting data and shared it with Stats Perform in real-time.

In February 2022, IMG Arena was awarded the contract for the Collection and Supply of Fast Data for Betting Purposes for 19 European soccer leagues and 44 competitions, including top and lower-tier domestic leagues, domestic cups, super cups, and women’s soccer competitions.

IMG Arena claims that Stats Perform breached their exclusive data collection rights during several matches in the five countries, including a match between Lafnitz and Sturm Graz II in the Austrian league and a match between FK Teplice and FC Zbrojovka Brno in the Czech league. 

Unauthorized scouts were also present at men’s tier 3 (3 Bundesliga) and women’s tier 1 (Frauen-Bundesliga) matches in Germany and the men’s top tier (Super League) match between PAS Lamia 1964 and OFI Crete in Greece. An unauthorized scout was also present during a men’s second-tier (Challenge League) match between Neuchatel Xamax and FC Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.

IMG Arena President Urges Rights Holders to Protect Their Data from Unscrupulous Companies

In a statement for SBC News, Freddie Longe, president of IMG Arena, said there is evidence indicating that Stats Perform has been sending unauthorized scouts to collect official data from European Leagues. The data was collected in several mature markets. 

According to IMG Arena, Stats Perform’s actions have caused substantial loss and damage to the company, although the full extent of the damage is not yet known. The company estimates the damages to be at least $1.6 million. IMG Arena believes that the data breaches by Stats Perform are undermining the value of the rights holders’ data and intellectual property in the marketplace.

Longe has further called on rights holders to take a more active role in protecting the value of their rights and to refuse to work with companies that engage in unscrupulous practices. He also urged entities like the Sports Rights Owners Coalition to play a more active role in protecting media rights.

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Zeal Ventures, one of the biggest investors in the lottery space, has provided the British studio startup Circl Gaming with an investment. While the size of the investment wasn’t disclosed by the two companies, it marks the start of a friendly partnership between the two parties.

As announced, Zeal Ventures will leverage its market experience to provide its new ally with counsel on all the important aspects of the gaming markets. The investor will tip Circl Gaming on regulatory matters, business strategy, marketing and optimization.

Zeal trusts Circl Gaming’s vision for a social betting experience, as attested by Dirk Reiche, Zeal Ventures’ investment director, who lauded Circl as a true visionary. Reiche noted that the gaming industry is now moving faster than ever and has produced a number of innovators like Circl.

According to the director, it is important to nurture such companies and augment the gaming market. Because of that, he is looking forward to working with Circl and advising the company on how to improve and diversify the gaming and entertainment space.

Circl Is Happy to Have Zeal’s Backing

Circl Gaming’s chief technology officer, Mark Quinn, also commented on the partnership with Zeal Ventures, calling it “a huge step forward” toward his team’s ambition to become an international company.

Quinn emphasized that the founders of Circl are thrilled to join forces with Zeal, a company that has extensive experience in the lottery and gaming sectors. The CTO added that this expertise would be invaluable to his team as Circl continues to roll out new products.

The support they will bring is not just financial, it will help with every pillar of our business.

Mark Quinn, CTO, Circl Gaming

Circl develops socially-charged gaming experiences. According to its description, it offers a live-action sports game, for its customers and their mates. It allows English Premier League aficionados to test their predictive ability while challenging their friends.

Circl players can give predict the outcomes of micro-events during Premier League games. The best Circl players can win exciting cash prizes and prove that they are the most knowledgeable soccer fans to their friends.

At first, Circl was a game meant to be enjoyed by small circles of friends (thus its name). However, now Circl offers exciting multiplayer experiences where people can play against other sports fans in the United Kingdom.

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