The Amaury group, owner of France Football, has announced it is filing a complaint following suspicions of leaks of the Ballon d'Or results and potentially fraudulent bets, notably involving Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé.
Newly created accounts are alleged to have placed bets totalling around 236,000 euros on a quintet of players, including Kane, Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi. These wagers reportedly yielded gains of approximately 178,000 euros. "The integrity of the Ballon d'Or is an absolute priority," the Amaury group stated. The organisation added, "We take the allegations of result leaks and potentially fraudulent bets very seriously," and confirmed investigations are underway.
This is not the first time the ceremony has been marred by controversy, a similar incident having led to a Real Madrid boycott in 2024. For Mbappé and Paris Saint-Germain, the matter arises as the club is fully focused on the season. Paris Saint-Germain currently sits top of Ligue 1 with 20 points from nine games, holding a two-point lead over Lille. The team is in strong form with three wins in its last five matches across all competitions, including a comprehensive 5-1 victory at Le Havre on Monday. That result on 30 October, which featured a hat-trick from Achraf Hakimi, takes the club's attacking tally to 21 goals scored and 10 conceded this campaign.
Paris Saint-Germain's recent run of three wins and two defeats has included significant victories such as the 2-0 win over Lyon on 26 October, with goals from Senny Mayulu and Mika Godts. Forward Ferran Torres remains the club's top scorer this season with four goals. The investigation into the suspicious betting continues independently of on-pitch matters, where Paris Saint-Germain must maintain its course at the summit of the league.
Background and full detail: RMC Sport Football
