By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Emiliano Martínez, the goalkeeper of Aston Villa F.C., is under investigation by The Football Association (FA) over allegations that he promoted a betting company in possible breach of English football regulations.
According to reports first highlighted by The Athletic, the FA has begun reviewing whether the Argentine international violated its strict rules after he was featured in promotional campaigns for the Argentine betting platform Bplay.
A press release from the betting company reportedly described Martínez as a brand ambassador for the platform for more than 18 months. The World Cup-winning goalkeeper has appeared in advertising material and promotional content linked to the company across its platforms.
However, FA regulations prohibit professional players in England from personally promoting or endorsing betting activities, particularly those connected to competitions they can influence.
The governing body is now assessing whether Martínez’s association with the betting company breaches those rules. If the investigation confirms a violation, the 2022 World Cup winner could face disciplinary sanctions, which may include a financial penalty or a suspension.
Previous cases show that the FA has taken action in similar situations. In 2019, former Yerry Mina was fined £10,000 while playing for Everton F.C. after appearing in a betting advertisement in Colombia.
Martínez, who also plays for the Argentina national football team, has yet to publicly comment on the investigation, and neither Aston Villa nor the betting company had issued official responses at the time the reports emerged.
The case comes amid growing scrutiny around gambling’s presence in English football, with clubs already agreeing to remove front-of-shirt betting sponsors from the Premier League starting from the 2026-27 season.
If proven, the alleged breach would mark another high-profile disciplinary case involving betting regulations in English football.