A possible scandal has erupted around the prestigious Golden Ball award. The Amaury media group, owner of the magazines “L’Équipe” and “France Football”, which organizes the ceremony for this trophy, is preparing to initiate legal proceedings after suspicions of leaked voting results and illegal betting.
In a statement to the French news agency (AFP), the company said that the integrity of the Golden Ball remains an absolute priority, while confirming that it is seriously reviewing the claims and preparing the appropriate legal steps.
The matter gained prominence after an investigation published by the financial platform Upside, which reported suspicious bets on the Polymarket platform, banned in France, ahead of the ceremony held in London.
According to the report, around $265,000 was placed through 12 accounts, which are suspected to belong to the same person. What has raised the most suspicion is the fact that the prediction for the top five players turned out to be accurate: Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi.
These developments have prompted the Amaury group to begin verifications to determine how the information may have been leaked and to identify possible those responsible.