Ex-NFL Players’ Trading Card Marketplace Faces Allegations: Sports Business Controversy Unveiled
Blake Martinez, a former NFL linebacker who was touted for leaving the gridiron behind to give attention to his buying and selling card enterprise, was booted from one market over allegations of “misconduct.”
NFL players Trading Card Marketplace
Martinez began his Pokémon card reselling enterprise referred to as Blake’s Breaks after he retired from the NFL in 2022. His enterprise shortly gained nationwide consideration.
Blake Martinez of the New York Giants motions in opposition to the Washington Soccer Workforce at FedExField on Sept. 16, 2021, in Landover, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
Nonetheless, allegations surfaced on Reddit that Blake’s Breaks was swapping high-value Pokémon packs for lesser packs. One other video surfaced on YouTube accusing Martinez of scamming customers on the WhatNot market.
WhatNot, one of many marketplaces customers should purchase and promote buying and selling playing cards amongst different gadgets, booted Blake’s Breaks.
“After a complete investigation into Blakesbreaks’ operations, we now have determined to completely take away the vendor from our platform, together with the person staff concerned in misconduct,” the corporate stated.
Blake Martinez of the New York Giants runs off of the sector in the course of the Washington Soccer Workforce sport on Sept. 16, 2021, in Landover, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
“We’ve refunded all consumers impacted by the infractions. In the event you consider you have been affected by an incident on his streams, please submit the main points right here, and we’ll examine.”
Based on the New York Put up, Martinez responded to the allegations on a dwell stream.
“I perceive the optics… I perceive the way it seems, belief me,” Martinez stated. “I do know the kind of enterprise I run… I made a very good amount of cash – all people is aware of, within the NFL – I knew moving into this was going to have a goal on my again.”
A group of Pokemon playing cards and different gadgets in Niva, jap Denmark, on Nov. 25, 2022. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP through Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
Martinez performed seven seasons within the NFL for the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants.
Based on Spotrac, he earned about $28.9 million from enjoying within the league.
