French police investigate suspected insider betting on Ballon d’Or

French police have opened an investigation into suspected insider trading connected to bets on this year's Ballon d'Or award, according to the report. Investigators found activity on the crypto-based prediction platform Polymarket, the report said.

The report said a dozen different accounts on Polymarket wagered on the exact finishing order of the top five players, and every one of those bets was right. That predicted order put Harry Kane in first place, with Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi behind him. Roughly 250,000 euros was staked in total, and the net profit came to just under 200,000 euros, according to the report. Investigators said the way the bettors managed their positions, as well as the unusually high hit rate, suggested possible insider trading, the report said.

The organiser, France Football, was reportedly told about the suspicious betting activity before the result was officially announced. After the ceremony, France Football began its own inquiries and contacted the SCCJ, the French police unit responsible for gambling, the report said.

A spokesperson for the organiser said the integrity of the Ballon d'Or was an absolute priority for France Football. The spokesperson said the organiser took seriously the allegations of leaked results and potentially criminal betting activity. The organiser was in the process of filing a complaint with the competent authorities, the spokesperson said, adding that no further details could be given while investigations continued.

The case draws attention to the role of prediction markets such as Polymarket in sport, the report said. Such platforms face growing criticism over the lack of regulatory supervision, and several US states have already begun legal action over their involvement in sports betting, according to the report.