FIFA faces criminal investigation in Switzerland over NFT platform
Date: 2025-10-20 Author: Oliver Abernathy Categories: BUSINESS
The Swiss Gambling Supervision Authority (GESPA) has filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office, initiating an investigation into the online platform FIFA Collect, which uses non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The investigation, which began in early October, revealed that participation in contests on the platform requires wagering, with winnings determined randomly through a draw or similar procedures.
Under Swiss law, such activities fall under the definition of lotteries and betting, and operating them without a license is illegal. GESPA stated that it is obligated to inform law enforcement authorities, who will decide whether to prosecute FIFA.
FIFA NFT Initiatives
In September 2022, FIFA announced the launch of collectible NFTs dedicated to the World Cup. The tokens were listed on the Algorand blockchain following a partnership with the platform in May of that year. According to FIFA Business Development Director Romy Gaja, the digital collectibles allowed fans to interact with players and relive key tournament moments through new digital formats.
In December 2022, a limited edition of 100 NFTs was announced on Polygon's L2 solution, some of which offered the chance to win a ticket to the 2026 World Cup final. A total of 900 tokens were planned to be issued on the Polygon network and sold through the OpenSea marketplace.
In April 2025, FIFA announced the creation of its own EVM-enabled blockchain, which would replace Algorand and Polygon to power FIFA Collect. In May, the organization selected the Avalanche platform as the basis for its new blockchain.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also did not rule out the possibility of launching a native token for the association, designed to engage with the global football fan base.
Thus, FIFA's NFT projects continue to develop, but Swiss regulators emphasize that some aspects of the platform may violate local lottery and betting laws.
