MADRID, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sevilla defender Kike Salas was detained by the police on Tuesday and appeared in court in the town of Moron de la Frontera on suspicion of fraud.
The 22-year-old is suspected of deliberately provoking yellow cards for illegal betting, with several other people, thought to be from his inner circle of family and acquaintances, also detained.
Spain's El Confidencial newspaper reports that investigators believe that Salas' family and friends could have placed around 30 different bets to win over 10,000 euros a month.
The investigation is focused on several matches played at the end of the 2023-2024 season where Salas was shown seven yellow cards in the last nine matches, with most of those yellow cards coming in the closing minutes of games.
Salas saw a total of 10 yellow cards in 23 league appearances in the campaign, while this season he has been booked three times in 14 appearances.
The player has only recently signed a contract with Sevilla to extend his stay at the club until 2029, and after his appearance in court, he trained with the rest of the first team squad. ■
