The FA have taken action against Ipswich Town's kitman (Image: PA)
James Pullen has been sanctioned by the FA for breaching betting rules while he was Ipswich Town's kitman, the governing body has confirmed. Pullen has been hit with a three-month suspension from football-related activity, suspended until the end of next season, and a hefty fine.
The Tractor Boys suspended Pullen upon receipt of the charge and the parties are now believed to have gone their separate ways. Pullen admitted to placing 867 bets on football over a six-year period.
Strict rules introduced by the FA ahead of the 2014/15 season prohibit players, managers, coaches, club staff, directors and licensed agents at all levels of the professional game from placing bets on football of any kind.
The FA's statement read: "Ipswich Town’s kitman has been sanctioned for misconduct in relation to The FA’s betting rules. James Pullen admitted that he placed 867 bets on football matches between 30 March 2018 and 13 March 2024.
"An independent Regulatory Commission imposed a three-month suspension from all football and football-related activity, which is suspended in full until the end of the 2025/26 season, and a £750 fine."
Pullen made two senior appearances for Ipswich Town during a professional career which took him to the likes of Blackpool, Peterborough and AFC Wimbledon.
Ipswich Town won promotion to the Premier League last season (Image: Getty)
The 42-year-old returned to Ipswich in 2013 as a masseur before later taking on the kitman role. The FA's written reasons for Pullen's punishment outline that almost all of the 867 bets he placed involved small stakes.
The total sum of the stakes came to just over £1,400, with Pullen making a £608.12 loss overall. The independent Regulatory Commission conceded that there was 'nothing suspicious about the betting' and their case did not suggest that Pullen benefitted from any form of insider knowledge.
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Out of the 867 bets he admitted to placing, 126 of them were directly on Ipswich games. The fact three of those bets involved draws was an aggravating factor in the case made against him. The Chelmsford-born former goalkeeper admitted wrongdoing early in the process and assisted the FA in their probe.
Ipswich are gearing up for their first top-flight season in more than two decades after manager Kieran McKenna guided them to second place in the Championship last term.
