Everton’s Martin Sherif fined over betting breaches
The 20-year-old was accused of involvement in 61 football bets, but will not receive a sporting sanction.
UK.- Everton FC forward Martin Sherif has received a £5,000 fine after being found in breach of football betting regulations over a 15-month period, bringing to a close a case that began in August when the Football Association (FA) charged him with betting-related offences in August.
The 20-year-old was accused of involvement in 61 football bets placed between November 20 2024 and February 12 2026. However, an independent regulatory commission concluded that a financial penalty of £5,000 was an appropriate sanction, sparing Sherif the far more severe punishments previously handed to players such as Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali.
The commission found that Sherif had not personally placed the wagers. Instead, he had facilitated bets on behalf of third parties using accounts held in his own name. Of the 61 bets, 42 were made during the 2024/25 Premier League campaign while he was contracted to Everton, with a further 19 occurring last season during loan spells at League One sides Port Vale and Rotherham United.
The bets amounted to a total stake of £1,974.77 and generated returns of £1,539.02, leaving an overall net loss of £435.75.
In reaching its decision, the commission, chaired by Sally Clark alongside Andrew Adie and Tony Agana, highlighted a number of mitigating factors. These included Sherif’s early admission of the charges, his co-operation throughout the investigation and what it described as “genuine remorse for his actions”.
“He has spoken to young players in the Everton academy, warning them about the dangers of betting and playing casino games,” the commission’s written reasons stated. “He had closed all of his betting accounts and no longer has any betting accounts in his name.”
Those factors, together with Sherif’s age at the time of the breaches, were central to the commission’s decision not to impose any sporting sanction, allowing the striker to continue his career without a suspension.
Everton has attracted controversy for maintaining a sponsorship deal with gambling operator Stake despite the brand having lost its British Gambling Commission Licence. The UK government recently held a consultation on proposals to ban such sponsorship deals with non-UK licensed gambling operators. Meanwhile, reports have also suggested Everton could be put up for sale despite The Friedkin Group having completed its takeover less than two years ago.
