Everton’s academy starlet Martin Sherif has been fined by the Football Association after it was discovered that he had broken betting rules.
Although the 20-year-old didn’t place any bets himself, bookmaker accounts in his name – which were funded by him – were used to place 61 wagers on football games across the globe.
That was taken in mitigation by the FA, who decided to fine Sherif £5,000 rather than impose a lengthy ban upon him.
Out of Pocket
The former Dutch youth international was charged with ‘having caused, permitted or enabled’ the bets, which were struck between November 2024 and February 2026.
Almost £2,000 was staked in total, with just over £1,500 returned for a net loss of £435.75 – Sherif noting that he had been left ‘considerably out of pocket’ by the situation.
An independent regulatory commission accepted that Sherif hadn’t placed the bets himself, although admitted it was ‘difficult to accept’ that the 20-year-old had no knowledge of them taking place.
They noted his ‘genuine remorse’ since being charged back in August, while also appreciating his full cooperation with the inquiry. Sherif has since attended education lessons on gambling.
A Football Association spokesperson commented:
The Commission considered that a fine of £5,000 represents a fair and proportionate sanction for Mr Sherif’s conduct. The Commission considered that Mr Sherif’s conduct did not warrant a sporting sanction.
FA Spokesperson
Although yet to break through at Everton, Sherif has trained with the first team under David Moyes and notched his first goals in professional football last season in loan spells at Rotherham United and Port Vale.
Born in Liberia, he has represented the Netherlands at various youth age groups.
England Stars' Betting Bans
Perhaps Sherif can consider himself lucky not to have been temporarily banned from football, as the FA has typically taken a dim view of anyone breaking their betting rules.
Ivan Toney, the England striker, was banned for eight months back in 2023 after admitting to placing more than 230 bets on football – including seven on his team to lose.
That is a clear breach of the Football Association rules, which state that all ‘participants’ in the Premier League and the EFL are prohibited from betting on all football games, no matter where they are played and whether the individual has any personal involvement.
Inside Information
Professional footballers are also banned from using ‘inside information’ to help others profit from betting. That was the case when Kieran Trippier, the former England international, was found to have told connections about his transfer to Atletico Madrid in 2019.
One of his friends placed ten bets on Trippier in the ‘next club’ market, with the right back informing another friend to ‘lump on’ ahead of his move to the Spanish outfit.
Another former Premier League ace, Joey Barton, was banned from playing for 18 months for placing more than 1,000 bets on football across a ten-year period.
The official statement from the FA confirms:
Participants covered by the ban will be prohibited from betting, either directly or indirectly, on any football match or competition that takes place anywhere in the world. This also includes a worldwide ban on betting on any other football-related matter. The passing of inside information to somebody that uses the information for betting remains prohibited.
Football Association
Craig is a freelance sports and iGaming writer with over a decade of experience covering the industry. He keeps a close eye on the latest bookmaker news, regulatory updates and market developments, bringing accurate and informed takes for BettingLounge readers.