ECB’s legal experts find Brendon McCullum broke no rules in promoting gambling firm encouraging punters to bet on the IPL after investigation was launched into whether the England Test coach contravened anti-corruption rules
- The England Test coach’s promoting of the company was examined by the ECB
- Legal experts found that he broke no rules in his promotion of the gambling firm
- Eyebrows had been raised at Brendon McCullum’s social media posts
No action will be taken against England Test coach Brendon McCullum after he promoted a gambling firm on his social media channels.
The ECB examined whether the Kiwi had breached anti-corruption rules following Mail Sport’s revelation that he had been encouraging punters to gamble on the IPL with 22Bet.
Legal experts looked into the matter and found that McCullum did not break any rules.
The ECB’s anti-corruption code has a clause which prohibits players, coaches and officials from ‘directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging, facilitating or authorising any other party to enter into a bet in relation to the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any match or competition’. It carries a one-year suspensions as a punishment.
However, the ECB subsequently found that the clause does not stop players or coaches from becoming brand ambassadors for gambling companies. Instead, it is aimed at protecting the sporting integrity of cricket matches themselves.
The ECB have found that Brendon McCullum broke no rules in his promotion of the gambling firm
The England Test coach posted promotional material for 22Bet on his social media channels
An ECB spokesperson said: ‘Discussions have been ongoing with Brendon over the last few days, and the matter has been considered from an employer and regulator perspective. We can confirm that no further action will be taken.’ McCullum, 41, had raised eyebrows with his actions, which come at a time when links between gambling and sport are under the microscope.
Earlier this month, Premier League football clubs agreed to ban front-of-shirt sponsorship by betting firms from the 2025-26 season, although bookmakers can still sponsor sleeves and appear on LED boards.
Meanwhile, new England football coach and former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink recently severed ties with a gambling company that had been banned from operating in Ukraine.
McCullum had joined Bet22 as an ambassador in January. He featured in a number of online advertisements promoting their IPL markets and posted videos on Twitter and Facebook.
In one, he said: ‘The IPL is coming and I think all cricket fans are excited for this big event. My friends at 22Bet are ready to make your IPL experience even more fascinating. 22Bet India guarantees the best odds.’
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