Bribe of 50 mln: ex-head of Fonbet Sergey Anokhin detained in Moscow

Sergey Anokhin, the former CEO of the Fonbet betting company, was detained in Moscow on January 29 on suspicion of giving a large bribe. According to the Izvestiya source, tentatively, it is about the sum of 50 million rubles, which Anokhin tried to give to a law enforcer. The recipient of the funds has also been detained. Later, the company "Fonbet" in its press release stated that Anokhin left his post in January and decided to focus on his own projects. Acting Director will be Konstantin Linev. Details - in the material "Izvestia".

For what detained Sergei Anokhin?

The former CEO of the bookmaker company "Fonbet" Sergei Anokhin was detained on suspicion of bribery. This was reported by a source of "Izvestia" on January 29. Preliminary, we are talking about the amount of 50 million rubles, which Anokhin tried to give to the law enforcer. The recipient was also detained. Details are being clarified.

The press service of the organization specified that Anokhin left the post of head of the bookmaker company in January. Acting director will be Konstantin Linev. The press service specified that he is a "veteran" of the industry.

"Anokhin decided to focus on the realization of his own business ideas in the sphere of cybersport and mass soccer," - stated in the message.

Who is Sergey Anokhin, what is known about him?

Sergey Anokhin is an athlete and entrepreneur, former vice-president of the Russian Football Union, chairman of the RFU Beach Soccer Committee. During his career, he was also president of the Moscow Football Federation, director of GBU FC Strogino, and from September 2020 to November 2021 headed FC Khimki. At the end of the 2020/21 season, the club finished a record-high 8th place in the Premier League.

He remained a member of the RFU executive committee until April 2022. As the businessman himself explained at the time, the reason for leaving was his activity in the bookmaker's office.

"I can only be in the coordinating bodies: boards of trustees, marketing committees and committees for children's and grassroots soccer. And that if there are no decisions on regulations there. I said goodbye to the executive committee. It is sad for me, but there is a new life ahead of me. I will help our soccer in terms of partnership. I will do my best to become an industry partner. I am not just talking about the RPL, but soccer in general. However, you have to understand that I am the director of a large commercial organization, which looks at everything from the point of view of commercial use," Anokhin said.

Anokhin is a master of sports in Russia, was a beach soccer player in his youth and played for the Strogino club and developed beach soccer in Russia for more than 20 years.

In 2005 he organized the Russian Beach Soccer Federation and established the first official championship of the Russian Federation. Since 2007, Chairman of the Beach Soccer Committee of the Russian Football Union. From 2010 to 2013 Director of GBU FC Strogino.

Since April 2022, CEO of the bookmaker company "Fonbet".

What is the company "Fonbet"?

The bookmaker company "Fonbet" was founded in 1994 by chess grandmaster Anatoly Machulsky. In 2020 it was included in the list of systemically important companies in terms of the number of employees and the amount of taxes paid, but was subsequently excluded.

According to open sources, the company employs about six thousand people, and its revenue in 2024 exceeded 610 billion rubles. Fonbet's share among all legal bookmakers in Russia amounted to 35.84% at the end of 2023.