REVEALED: New England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to stop producing content for betting firms after his interview with a sanctioned gambling company emerges just 48 hours after the Three Lions clash with Ukraine
- England’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will stop producing content for betting firms
- The attacking coach gave an interview with a PariMatch after the Ukraine match
- However, that gambling company are currently sanctioned in Ukraine
England attacking coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will stop providing promotional content for betting firms after an interview he gave to a gambling company that are banned from operating in the Ukraine emerged on Tuesday.
Hasselbaink, recently appointed onto Gareth Southgate’s backroom team, was part of the England party that faced Ukraine at Wembley on Sunday night.
The game provided English football with a chance to show solidarity with Ukraine, who are suffering at the hands of Russia in a war that has shocked the world.
But just 48 hours after England’s 2-0 win at the national stadium an interview carried out by betting firm PariMatch, who have been sanctioned in Ukraine for continuing to operate in Russia during the conflict, with Hasselbaink went live on the firm’s official website.
Sportsmail understands the interview, in which the Dutchman speaks about current England international Bukayo Saka, James Maddison and Marcus Rashford, was conducted on February 10 – a month before Ukraine took the decision to sanction PariMatch.
England’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will stop providing promotional content for betting firms
Hasselbaink’s interview with PariMatch, a gambling company sanctioned in Ukraine, was released shortly after England’s match with Ukraine
Nevertheless, the timing of the interview being made public so soon after the clash against Ukraine arrives as an embarrassing episode.
In addition to the complexities linked to PariMatch, providing publicity content for betting companies in general comes as a further worry to the Football Association given the ongoing concerns with regards to sports-related gambling.
The Government are currently putting the finishing touches on a revolutionary White Paper that will have consequences for gambling advertising in football.
And Hasselbaink has now agreed to no longer participate in promotional work for gambling companies given his position with England.
PariMatch – whose HQ is in Cyprus – were founded in Ukraine in 1994 before entering the Russian market four years later.
The company are listed among Chelsea’s official partners, but Sportsmail revealed the west London club were reviewing their sponsorship arrangement with them after discovering the betting firm had been sanctioned.
In January, Hasselbaink gave an interview to Safe Betting Sites and has a history of providing content for gambling firms.
In the January interview, the former Chelsea striker implored his ex-employers to sign England captain Harry Kane – a player he now works with at international level – from Tottenham for £50million this summer.
‘The only person you could go and get who is that type of player who will strengthen Chelsea in that position is Harry Kane,’ said the former Holland international.
‘If I was in charge I would go after him. I know he might not make the move because of the rivalry with Spurs but I would at least try.
Given his role with England, such interviews provide a conflict of interest for Hasselbaink
‘I know he is 29 but at the end of the season he will only have one or two years left on his contract.
‘He won’t cost £100million this summer, he will cost more like £50m or £60m which is much better value.’
Providing such interviews now would provide a clear conflict of interest for Hasselbaink, who has also worked as a regular TV pundit, given his new role with the FA.
Moving forward Premier League clubs will seek assurances that any future media work Hasselbaink conducts does not compromise any of their England internationals.
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