Everton FC player Martin Sherif is facing a ban from soccer for violating England’s betting rules. The English Football Association (FA) revealed that Sherif placed bets on soccer matches over the past two years. Players are strictly prohibited from wagering on any soccer games.
The 20-year-old has yet to play for Everton’s first team, having signed for the youth team at 13. He spent last season out on loan at lower league clubs Rotherham United and Port Vale.
An FA spokesperson wrote in a post on X that Sherif placed 61 bets on soccer matches between November 2024 and February this year.
The player has until Monday to respond to the charges.
Sherif Likely to Face Suspension
Sherif is facing a several-month ban for the violations. In October last year, the FA fined AFC Wimbledon player Osman Foyo £1,000 ($ 1,340) and handed him a 5-month, partly suspended ban from playing for betting on soccer.
Foyo placed a total of 252 bets on matches between October 2023 and March 2025. He admitted to the violations, and none of the bets were on matches involving his own team.
If the matches involved Sherif’s own team and there are suspicions of match-fixing, then he could face a considerably harsher punishment. The FA gave no suggestion that he is under investigation for anything other than betting.
Confident Player Promised Goals
When joining Rotherham on loan last season, Sherif described himself as “a confident player.” In an interview with the Rotherham Advertiser, he added, “Confidence is important as a footballer. Without it, you can’t play.”
“I can get the ball, I can get in behind, I can be a fox in the box,” he continued. “I can score headers, I can take shots from outside of the box. It’s just about how the ball comes to me, really.”
“With this loan, I’m hoping to become a better professional, a better player,” he went on to say. The loan, however, was cut short due to several injuries. He then joined Port Vale in February. The FA says his betting continued to this point.
When facing time on the sidelines due to injury, the temptation to bet can be even stronger for players. Former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen spoke openly about developing a gambling problem when injured.
“It started mainly out of boredom and killing time until it came to the point where I was in debt,” the Icelandic striker said. “It had taken my mind away from things, sitting at home thinking about my injury all the time, seeing my teammates get results, and I wasn’t part of it. Any footballer can relate to this.”
Everton Continues to Promote Unlicensed Gambling
While taking a tough stance on player betting, English authorities have faced criticism for continuing to allow gambling sponsors in soccer.
Everton extended their deal with Stake this summer despite a voluntary ban on gambling companies appearing on the front of shirts. The online betting platform will instead appear on Everton’s sleeve.
Stake was emblazoned on Everton’s shirt when Sherif scored his first goal for the under-21 side in 2023. Shortly after this, he allegedly began gambling.
Betting brand SkyBet also appeared on the sleeve of the shirts he wore for Rotherham and Port Vale last season. The company is the official partner of the English Football League (EFL), three divisions below the Premier League.
Clubs in those leagues can still display gambling companies on the front of their shirts. Birmingham City, the club part-owned by Tom Brady, recently signed a deal with betting operator Coral to feature the brand on its shirt for the new season.
“His club still has a betting company on the shirt. The FA bans players from betting, but has no problem with clubs taking millions from the same industry. Where’s the duty of care? Young players don’t stand a chance in this system,” wrote one user in response to the FA’s statement announcing Sherif’s violations.
