Test cricket star Mitchell Johnson rues woke ABC’s ‘bum deal’ over gambling

Mitchell Johnson has fallen foul of a little known clause barring links to gambling companies, dashing a commentary stint.

Former Australian Test cricketer Mitchell Johnson with Jonathan Agnew.

Mitchell Johnson says he has fallen foul of the ABC’s “moral compass” after being forced to abandon plans to commentate on the cricket this summer because of a little-known clause barring anyone associated with a gambling company from working for the national broadcaster.

The former fast bowler and popular cricket identity was due to call ODI matches in Queensland from this weekend, but walked away from negotiations when the ABC told him he could not have any dealings with commercial gambling companies – a move he said was hypocritical.

Former St Kilda champion Brendon Goddard was forced from the AFL commentary box this year and ­journalist/commentator Roger Oldridge had to give up work as a boundary rider because both have podcasts sponsored by a gambling company.

Johnson told The Australian he found it strange that the Australian government, which funds the public broadcaster, raises a significant amount of its revenue from taxes on gambling but he was blocked.

Almost every major sport called live by the ABC involves some level of corporate sponsorship from betting agencies.

Former AFL star Brendon Goddard. Picture: Mark Wilson

Cricket Australia has been in partnership with Bet365 for a decade and has 27 “approved betting providers”. The AFL is closely aligned with Sportsbet. NRL clubs are similarly aligned. Most of the sports have, however, signed up to the NSW government’s Reclaim the Game program that aims to reduce the exposure to gaming promotions in sport.

Johnson’s move came after fellow ABC commentator and former Test captain Ian Chappell announced his retirement.

“I have really enjoyed working with the ABC team over recent seasons and was looking forward to doing it again,” Johnson told the ABC. “There seems to be a lot of hypocrisy that goes with this rule. I don’t understand and you start to wonder about what you can and can’t say if you are calling for them.

“It’s blown me away a little bit: do we have to make sure we have to align with the ABC’s moral compass? There’s nothing I can do about it … that’s the rule and I guess I’m not going to work with them.”

Johnson and former footballer Brendan Fevola are used in advertising for new Australia-based sports gambling outfit Bet Nation.

Johnson is understood to be considering an offer to work with Triple M on its cricket coverage this summer.

The former cricketer’s management confirmed they received a call from ABC sport recently after they became aware of the situation and told that it was a problem.

Johnson’s contract with Bet Nation runs out in November, which would have allowed him to cover the Test summer, but he was so disappointed by the situation he decided to walk away from the national broadcaster.

“When we explained the policy, Mitch was extremely disappointed,” manager Tony Box told The Australian. “He felt there was a clear double standard in that individuals are being punished yet it’s still OK for the sports themselves and the ABC to be funded via sponsorship or tax revenue from the same industry.

“He loves doing radio and loved working with the team. He was clear in his instructions not to pursue more opportunities with the ABC with this policy in place.”

ABC’s head of sport Nick Morris confirmed the situation to the Australian, saying “after discussions with his manager, there are conflicts of interest with Mitchell’s other work which means we are unable to work together this season.”

Goddard had to give up work with ABC Grandstand after signing up to do the In The Back Pocket AFL podcast for Sportsbet with former Hockeyroo Georgie Parker and former AFL player Nathan Brown.

Relations with sports gaming companies have been controversial for sometime. This month high-profile Age football writer Sam McClure resigned from the paper after being caught in a controversy related to an advertisement he did for Sportsbet.