Swiss Gambling Regulator Files Criminal Complaint Against FIFA
Swiss Gambling Regulatory Authority Takes Legal Action Against FIFA
Gespa, the Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority, has initiated a criminal complaint against FIFA’s NFT platform called FIFA Collect. The complaint alleges that the platform conducts illegal gambling activities by enabling the buying, selling, and trading of digital tokens that involve chance-based rewards.
FIFA Faces Legal Challenges from Gespa
In early October 2025, Gespa identified the FIFA Collect platform and found that it offers monetary rewards through mechanisms that involve randomness or chance. Following an investigation focused on the features of the digital collectibles website, particularly elements labeled as “drops” and “challenges,” the authority concluded these are considered gambling under Swiss law due to payments and chance-based outcomes.
FIFA Collect is part of FIFA’s larger strategy to use blockchain technology to enhance fan engagement by allowing users to purchase and trade digital collectibles linked to international football events. However, its challenge-based features, which require users to pay for participation with a chance to win exclusive prizes, have raised regulatory concerns. The dependence on chance for deciding rewards places the platform within the scope of Swiss gambling regulations.
Under Switzerland’s Federal Act on Gambling, Gespa is required to report any suspected violations to criminal authorities. While prosecutors will determine the legal outcome, Gespa may assist with the ongoing investigation but has withheld additional information to respect the confidentiality of the legal process.
Understanding FIFA Collect and the Controversy Around Its Tokens
The dispute over FIFA Collect coincides with FIFA’s expanding use of blockchain for fan participation, notably through the “Right to Buy” token program introduced in 2024. This initiative allowed fans to gain priority rights to purchase tickets for the 2026 World Cup.
By obtaining these tokens, fans could guarantee the opportunity to buy tickets for specific matches early, bypassing FIFA’s typical lottery and phased ticketing methods. These tokens were transferable and could be sold on secondary markets at prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
The speculative nature of these token transactions, especially related to match assignments that are unpredictable, led some experts to compare the system to gambling. Since both the match outcomes and secondary market values are uncertain, this speculative element remains a key focus of Gespa’s complaint against FIFA Collect.
