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Sporting Kansas City midfielder Felipe Hernandez has been suspended for the remainder of the 2021 MLS season without pay after revealing to the league that he had bet on MLS games.
The league said in a statement Friday that Hernandez had visited Sporting Kansas City officials and said he feared for his safety because of the money he owed by betting on the games. MLS opened an investigation into Hernandez’s betting habits on July 5 and SKC “immediately took action to refer the matter to law enforcement and ensure Hernandez received the necessary support and guidance.” .
According to the MLS statement, Hernandez has bet on two MLS games online. None of the games involved Sporting Kansas City and there was no indication that Hernandez “had confidential or non-public information regarding these two MLS games.”
The league pointed out in its statement that it had found no evidence of any other MLS player betting on MLS games. MLS players are not allowed to bet on championship games, and sports betting is not legal in Kansas or Missouri.
Hernandez issues statement
Hernandez said in a statement on Friday afternoon that he was undergoing treatment for a gambling addiction.
“Over the past few months, I’ve been able to reassess, take responsibility for my actions, and get the proper care for something that has affected me a lot,” Hernandez wrote.
His full statement is below.
Hernandez, 23, played six games for Sporting KC in 2021 and made four starts. He has scored one goal and obtained three assists in those matches. His last appearance for the SKC this season was on July 4, a day before MLS began its investigation.
Sporting KC are second in the Western Conference with 52 points in 28 games. SKC still has six games left before the MLS playoffs start in November.
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