As announced by the Football Association, James Pullen, a kitman working for Ipswich Town, was handed a fine after an independent regulatory commission found him guilty of wagering on professional football games.
Pullen’s actions warranted such a penalty since, according to his own admission, he had placed over 860 bets on football matches, and this gambling activity had been ongoing from March 2018 until March 2024. The total money staked stood at £1,400, and most individual wagers were quite small.
In a detailed breakdown of each instance of misconduct, it was established that 126 of the wagers were made on games his own club was involved in, with the vast majority being accumulator bets. On several occasions, Pullen wagered that matches involving Ipswich Town would end in draws. However, a clarification was also made that Pullen never wagered against Ipswich Town, and the FA did not accuse Pullen of having used inside information in order to secure guaranteed wins.
According to the commission, the draw bets served as aggravating factors but were not offences severe enough to warrant putting his possible punishment in the range of six months to life. Moreover, the commission also took note of Pullen’s admission of guilt, the fact that he did not make any attempts to withhold information, and how he collaborated with the Football Association throughout the investigation.
With the above factors in mind, as well as the remorse Pullen expressed, the commission decided that a fine of £750 and a three-month ban from football-related activities (suspended until the 2025/26 season) were appropriate punishments for his deeds. It should be noted that Ipswich Town FC also issued a five-week suspension.
Rollbit Reaches Sponsorship Deal with Southampton FC
The relationship between the gambling industry and football in the UK is somewhat complicated. There are strict rules prohibiting staff members and players from wagering on football games, but the sport itself is funded by a range of betting and casino operators through notable sponsorship deals. While some football fans, as well as gambling reform advocates, have expressed vocal disapproval of this, football clubs continue to turn to such companies as they serve as a reliable source of funding.
Just this week, it was revealed that Southampton FC has partnered with gambling company Rollbit and that the front of club players’ shirts will display the company’s logo, making Southampton FC the first Premier League club Rollbit has reached a sponsorship deal with. Greg Baker, currently serving as Southampton’s Chief Revenue Officer, said that the club was pleased to “welcome Rollbit into the Saints family” as the club’s Official Front of Shirt Partner. “This partnership marks a dynamic fusion of technology and sport,” he added. Sam Norman, Head of Partnerships for Rollbit, mirrored this enthusiasm in his own statement commemorating the partnership, deeming Southampton “the perfect club” to partner with as Rollbit expands its influence on a global scale.
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Daniel Williams
