Footie pundit Robbie Savage in BBC betting storm as he plugs gambling while hosting Radio 5 Live and Match of the Day
The former Leicester and Derby star has come under fire for being paid by bookie William Hill to encourage fans to gamble on matches just hours before discussing them on air
TOP pundit Robbie Savage is breaching BBC rules by promoting gambling on football on the same day he is giving views on games.
While the former Leicester and Derby star co-hosts Radio 5 Live phone-in 606 and is often on Match of the Day, the 41-year-old is also paid to plug bookie William Hill on Twitter.
BBC guidelines say pundits should not promote services linked to a sport they cover.
The BBC has now been called on to answer serious questions as it emerged last night that Robbie Savage was breaching the rules by promoting gambling on football matches — on the same day he acts as a pundit.
In the past two months he has re-tweeted more than 100 ads for his “SavAcca” accumulator bets for the company, which encourage fans to gamble on Premier League matches — just hours before he discusses them.
BBC editorial guidelines state: “Even when there is no obvious conflict of interest with the presenter’s on-air role, there are some products or services which the BBC would not wish its presenters to promote as the association might be damaging to the BBC’s reputation.
"Care must be taken with other products such as alcohol, high interest financial products or gambling.
“Presenters, reporters, commentators and regular ‘pundits’ who work on BBC sports coverage and sports programmes should not advertise products or services connected with the sport or sports which they cover nor should they undertake adverts for the sponsors of the sports which they cover.”
On his Twitter page, Savage has promoted gambling on darts, football and horse racing.
Last night the BBC tried to insist his deal with William Hill does not breach its rules as “Robbie does not tweet about his other commitments immediately before, during or immediately after his Radio 5 Live work.”
A BBC spokesman said: “Robbie is a freelance broadcaster. While working in a BBC capacity, he adheres to our guidelines.”
But when he last hosted 606 on September 24 Savage put out three retweets of ads featuring videos of him giving predictions and odds for the day's top games.
The next day he retweeted two ads before appearing on MOTD2.
On September 3, he plugged the bookies once on Twitter before his 606 show and twice afterwards.
The pattern was the same throughout August on days when he worked as a BBC pundit.
Tory MP Bill Cash said: “This is an issue which raises a question of inconsistency. He should be warned he can’t do it again.”
Fellow Tory MP Andrew Bridgen added: “The BBC need to look into it.”
Savage who became a host of 606 in 2010 — the same year he signed up as an ambassador for William Hill — refused to comment.