Ballon d’Or, USA News (Paris): The controversy surrounding suspicious bets placed on the 2026 Ballon d’Or has officially moved into the judicial arena. Confronted with allegations of leaks regarding the final standings, Groupe Amaury, the owner of France Football, informed Le Parisien that a legal complaint is in progress to uncover the truth behind the incidents.
As previously noted, 12 newly created accounts placed a combined total of 264,000 dollars on the exact top five of the ranking. The wager featured Harry Kane ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi. These successful bets reportedly yielded nearly 179,000 euros in winnings.
In a statement provided to the French daily newspaper, Groupe Amaury emphasized that the integrity of the Ballon d’Or remains an absolute priority. The organization reiterated that the winner is determined through an independent voting process, noting that allegations of results leaking and potentially fraudulent betting are treated with extreme seriousness. Investigations are currently underway to verify the facts and establish any potential responsibilities.
An independent investigation by Upside revealed that seven of the twelve accounts had never placed a bet prior to the event, while six placed their initial wagers just fifteen minutes after creation.
