Published on: November 13, 2024, 02:14h.
Last updated on: November 13, 2024, 02:28h.
Argentine authorities have initiated an investigation into potential illegal gambling activities following a surprise appearance by a popular YouTuber in a high-profile soccer match on Monday.
Ivan Buhajeruk, also known as “Spreen” to his nine million Spanish-speaking social media followers, made a brief appearance as a forward for Deportivo Riestra in the Argentine Primera Division on Tuesday, despite lacking any professional soccer experience.
The influencer was substituted by Deportivo coach Cristian Fabbiani after just 50 seconds on the field without making a significant impact. The match against Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield ended in a 1-1 draw.
Surge in Betting Activity
Deportivo is renowned for its unconventional marketing strategies, and the incident was apparently a publicity stunt to promote an energy drink. However, Argentina’s Specialized Prosecutor on Gambling has launched an investigation to determine if Fabbiani and Buhajeruk were attempting to attract bettors to illegal platforms.
Following the announcement of Spreen’s participation in the game, various betting sites offered odds on the influencer’s performance, with popular bets including his duration on the field and whether he would score a goal.
BetWarrior, along with other sites like BPlay, 1XBet, and Betsson, offered odds related to Spreen’s performance. BetWarrior even promised to give away 47 free bets if Spreen scored, as stated on their X platform.
Online gambling in Argentina is regulated on a province-by-province basis, with some provinces permitting it while others do not. Among the mentioned betting sites, all except 1XBet have licenses from at least one Argentine jurisdiction.
Controversy and Backlash
Despite the brewing controversy over potential illicit gambling connections, the stunt received negative feedback from many individuals within Argentine soccer. This led the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to launch an investigation through its ethics tribunal to determine if Deportivo’s actions had harmed the integrity and reputation of Argentine football.
Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, President of the AFA, expressed his disappointment in the stunt, highlighting the significance of young players fulfilling their dreams of playing in the Primera Division without shortcuts or gimmicks.
Actions that are deemed inappropriate must be rectified,” Tapia emphasized. “This behavior requires correction and should not be tolerated.
Regarding the incident, Spreen acknowledged the excitement it brought but also addressed the criticisms it received from various parties.
“It was a memorable experience for me, and I embraced the opportunity,” he stated. “I did not take anyone’s place, and if anyone felt disrespected by our actions, I extend my apologies as that was never our intention.”