The crisis surrounding suspicious bets linked to the Ballon d'Or 2026 has taken a judicial turn, as the Amaury Group, owner of "France Football" magazine, announced the start of legal proceedings to uncover the circumstances surrounding the suspicion of the final ranking leak.
According to what the newspaper "Le Parisien" reported from the group, the move came in light of dubious bets aimed at accurately predicting the top five positions in the Ballon d'Or ranking, amid questions about the possibility of undisclosed information reaching some bettors before the results were announced.
Details indicate that 12 accounts were specifically created for this purpose, betting a total of $264,000 on the correct ranking of the top five positions, led by Harry Kane, followed by Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi.
According to the report, these bets yielded profits of nearly €179,000, raising further suspicions about how the accurate ranking was determined, although this does not yet imply proven leakage or manipulation.
"The integrity of the Ballon d'Or is an absolute priority"
In a statement relayed by "Le Parisien," the Amaury Group emphasized its commitment to the integrity of the award, affirming that the winner is chosen through an independent vote.
The group stated, "The integrity of the Ballon d'Or represents an absolute priority. We would like to remind you that the winner receives the Ballon d'Or following an independent vote."
The statement added, "We take allegations related to the leakage of results and potentially fraudulent bets very seriously. Investigations are underway to verify the facts and identify potential responsibilities."
Investigations conducted by the "Upside" platform revealed indicators that raised further questions about the 12 accounts; seven of which had never placed a bet before, while six accounts made their first bets just 15 minutes after being created.
These details remain under examination and investigation, pending clarity on whether the bets were based on leaked information or other factors, and whether any legal responsibilities can be proven.