Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter fired after reports of theft

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Shohei Ohtani answers questions and Ippei Mizuhara translates during the Los Angeles Dodgers Press Conference.Getty Images
By Mariko Dude
Business columnist

Sports experience Shohei Ohtani’s longer- time speaker, Ippei Mizuhara, has been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers after allegations of theft connected to illegitimate gambling.

According to ESPN, at least$ 4.5m ( £3.5m ) was transferred from Mr Ohtani’s bank account to a bookmaker. Mr Ohtani is never accused of wrongdoing.

On Tuesday, Mr. Mizuhara addressed the US sports channel.

The announcement comes as Mr. Ohtani made his Dodgers standard season album.

The top communications director of the team has informed the BBC that they are gathering data and that they are” you affirm that Ippei Mizuhara has been fired.”

In 38 states in the United States, activities betting is still prohibited in California.

Major League Baseball has its own scheme which bans “any person, judge, or Club or League standard or staff” from betting on any football game and placing bets with unlawful bookmakers.

ESPN has said it reviewed bank data showing Mr Ohtani’s brand on two$ 500, 000 payment, one sent in September and the other in October, to a renaissance activity run by Mathew Bowyer.

Mr. Bowyer was questioned by a trial team that allegedly targeted a million dollar illegal sports betting plan, but he was not charged with a crime, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Mr. Mizuhara reportedly claimed in an interview that he had contacted the football star to help with his gambling debts.

” Obviously, ( Ohtani ) was n’t happy about it and said he would help me out to make sure I never do this again”, Mr Mizuhara reportedly said.

” I want everyone to know Shohei did n’t engage in any gambling.” I want people to know that I did not realize this was prohibited. I had a difficult lesson to learn. I’ll never actually wager on sports afterwards.

Initial reports from a spokeswoman for Mr. Ohtani to ESPN indicated that the former Los Angeles Angels two-way army had transferred funds to pay his interpreter’s gaming debts, but he has since refuted that claim.

According to reports, Mr. Mizuhara has officially changed his story, then claiming that Mr. Ohtani did not know about the gambling bills and did not transfer funds.

According to The LA Times, Mr. Ohtani’s attorneys have since charged his translator with “massive robbery.”

In response to recent media comments, Berk Brettler’s speech read,” We discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a large robbery, and we are turning the issue over to the authorities.” The BBC has contacted the law firm for verification.

Mr Ohtani just signed a document 10- yr,$ 700m deal with the Dodgers, after winning his second majority American League MVP award.
His stay in the US started in 2018, and Mr Mizuhara has been a constant partner. He and his wife were just seen in a photograph which unveiled Mr Ohtani’s family, Mamiko Tanaka after weeks of debate.

Mr Mizuhara’s ability to interpret Mr Ohtani’s comments into colloquial English has been widely praised in Japan.

Mattea Bubalo provided additional reporting.

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