AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is under investigation from UEFA for an "alleged financial interest in a betting company".
The legendary Swedish striker, 39, has just signed a new one-year deal at the Serie A giants.
The Rossoneri mounted a strong title challenge this year, falling just short to rivals Inter.
But they would have been hoping to count on Ibrahimovic in next season's Champions League campaign after spending years outside the top tier of European football.
Now his future is in grave doubt after a surprise move from the European governing body for football, who have appointed one of their ethics and disciplinary inspectors to look into the matter raised by a Swedish newspaper earlier this month.
A UEFA statement read: "In accordance with Article 31(4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR), a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has today been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations by Mr. Zlatan Ibrahimović for having an alleged financial interest in a betting company.
"Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course."
Article 31(2b) of the organisation's disciplinary regulations reads: "The integrity of matches and competitions is violated, for example, by anyone... who participates directly or indirectly in betting or similar activities relating to competition matches or who has a direct or indirect financial interest in such activities."
Swedish paper Aftonbladet reported last month that Ibrahimovic's company has a sizeable stake in Malta-based Bethard.
It's also claimed that, if found guilty, he faces a three-year ban that could effectively end his football career if FIFA issue their own sanction, though UEFA do not have a standard punishment.
