EXCLUSIVE: Ashes wary as two England punters get kicked from Women’s ODI in Bristol on suspicion of illegal gambling activity
- Two men were sent off from England’s Ashes victory over Australia
- There was a suspicion of illegal gambling related to the Bristol match
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Two men were thrown out of the England women’s one-day international victory over Australia in Bristol on Wednesday on suspicion of illegal gambling – putting the ECB in the red for next week’s fourth Ashes Test.
The pair were identified by an ECB anti-corruption officer who was scanning the crowd for suspicious behaviour.
The first person was seen using multiple mobile phones early in the match and admitted to engaging in “pitch-siding” – a banned practice at sporting venues that transmits live information to illegal bookmakers in India, who profit from the delay with tv pictures to manipulate odds.
The second man initially denied any wrongdoing, but after lying about the number of phones he was carrying, he too was escorted from Seat Unique Stadium with the help of Avon and Somerset police.
An unnamed England player also reported a pre-match approach from someone on social media asking her to share a picture of the pitch with them.
Two men were sent off from England’s Women’s Ashes victory over suspected gambling activity
It has raised concerns ahead of the fourth test of the men’s axis which takes place next week
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An Airbnb booking for Manchester next week on one of the men’s seized phones has raised concerns about illegal gambling around the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
At least one person was escorted out of Headingley during the third Field Clearance Test and ECB anti-corruption officials will be on high alert again next week.
Both the men’s and women’s Ashes are prime targets for illegal gamblers, with individuals paid between £100 and £200 a day to sit on the premises and relay live information from televised matches.
Anti-corruption officials estimate that there are about 100,000 bookmakers operating illegally in India, where sports betting is largely focused on cricket.
An official told Mail Sport: “For every one or two we catch, there are probably another 20.”
A statement from the ECB read: ‘Two people were ejected from the room for breaking the rules. The ICC and the ECB take the fight against corruption seriously.’
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