FIFA Faces Criminal Charges in Switzerland Over NFT Initiatives

GESPA files criminal complaint against FIFA's NFT platform in Switzerland.

The Swiss Gambling Supervisory Authority (GESPA) has filed a criminal complaint against the NFT platform of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA).

According to a press release, an investigation initiated in early October revealed that the online platform FIFA Collect conducts various contests using “non-fungible tokens.” Participation requires placing bets, with the possibility of winning cash prizes. The outcomes depend on a draw or similar procedures.

Under current legislation, Gespa classified these offerings partly as a lottery and partly as betting. Such activities in the country require a license, meaning FIFA Collect operated illegally.

The agency stated it is obliged to notify law enforcement authorities of the violation, leaving them to decide on pursuing criminal charges.

FIFA’s NFT Initiatives

In September 2022, the football federation announced the launch of a series of collectible tokens dedicated to the upcoming World Cup. The assets debuted on the Algorand blockchain, with which a partnership was established in May.

“Like sports memorabilia and stickers, this is an affordable opportunity for fans worldwide to connect with their favorite players, relive great moments, and more on new platforms,” commented FIFA’s Chief Business Officer Romy Gai at the time.

In December, the organization announced the release of a limited collection of 100 NFTs on the L2 solution Polygon. Some tokens available through FIFA Collect offered the chance to win a ticket to the final of the next World Cup in 2026.

A total of 900 digital collectibles were planned for release on the Polygon network. The assets were to be sold on the OpenSea marketplace.

In April 2025, FIFA announced the creation of its own EVM-compatible blockchain. The network is intended to replace Algorand and Polygon as the base for FIFA Collect.

By May, the organization decided that the platform would be based on Avalanche.

Earlier, FIFA President Gianni Infantino suggested the possibility of launching a native token for engaging with the global football fan base.