Two FIFA World Cup players have been referred to authorities over alleged spot-fixing concerns following controversial yellow card incidents that prompted investigations.
The 2026 World Cup is set to become one of the most-watched sporting events in history, drawing billions of viewers globally and generating massive betting activity across international markets. With bookmakers and prediction platforms offering wagers on everything from the next goalscorer to the tournament winner, integrity experts have sounded the alarm over the escalating threat of spot-fixing.
Unlike conventional match-fixing, spot-fixing involves manipulating specific incidents within a soccer game — such as yellow cards, corners, or throw-ins — without necessarily influencing the final result, as per
When asked whether match-fixing concerns had been raised prior to the tournament, FIFA responded: “FIFA has a zero-tolerance policy against match manipulation and provides a dedicated, highly secure and web-based whistleblowing system so that individuals can report any form or knowledge of potential match manipulation or integrity-related misconduct.”
Recent months have witnessed a string of high-profile integrity investigations across global sport. The NBA was rocked in November when an FBI investigation led to 34 individuals being charged in connection with alleged illegal gambling schemes, among them current players and coaches, including Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, Terry Rozier, and Jontay Porter. In mid-January, federal prosecutors further charged 26 men over an alleged conspiracy to fix college basketball games.
In a separate development, also in November, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz faced accusations of accepting bribes to manipulate their pitching. All parties implicated have denied any wrongdoing.