Everton FC footballer Martin Sherif has been handed what has been dubbed a “fair and proportionate” £5,000 fine for breaching betting rules over 15 months.
It brings to an end a saga which began in August when Sherif was charged by the Football Association (FA) for placing 61 bets on football matches between 20 November 2024 and 12 February 2026.
An independent regulatory commission has decided that a £5,000 penalty for the charges are sufficient – with the Everton forward avoiding the mammoth sanctions imposed on footballers such as Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali due to the nature of the breaches.
Sherif did not place the 61 bets himself, but rather facilitated third party bets through his own name – 42 times in the 2024/25 Premier League season while he was at parent club Everton and 19 times last season when he had loan spells at then-EFL League One clubs Port Vale and Rotherham United.
The total stake was £1,974.77, yielding returns of £1,539.02 and resulting in an overall net loss of £435.75.
It was noted by the commission – chaired by Ms Sally Clark, alongside Mr Andrew Adie and Mr Tony Agana – that Sherif had admitted guilt early and was co-operative with the FA while showing “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 filings stated.
“He had closed all of his betting accounts and no longer has any betting accounts in his name.”
Sherif to focus on future at uncertain Everton
The above factors combined with Sherif’s youth at the time are the reasons why the Everton player has not been handed any sporting sanction.
Sherif, still only 20-years-old, can now focus on his playing career at a Premier League club which currently only has one recognised striker in Thierno Barry and has reportedly been put up for sale despite current owners, The Friedkin Group, having only been there for less than two years.
Perhaps more pertinently for Sherif, the highly-possible scenario of a breakthrough into Everton’s first team due to the current lack of depth in his position will result in him donning a shirt emblazoned with a gambling logo on the side of its sleeve – one of a gambling firm unlicensed in the UK at that.
