英国东北部沿海小镇Saltburn的板球队二队在对阵Norton二队的比赛中涉嫌作弊。[1]视频显示，一名守场员在击球手挥杆时打响手指，试图欺骗裁判认为球已击中球棒边缘。[1]这段视频被网络戏称为"Clickgate"，在社交媒体上获得超过700万次观看，引发全球关注。[1]
涉事守场员名叫Brian Devine，现年38岁，是一名公司秘书，网络上将其戏称为"Clicky Ponting"。[1]这一作弊指控在板球圈引起强烈反响，因为板球向来被视为"绅士游戏"。事件发生后，Devine失去了一家当地印度餐厅的赞助。[1]未经证实的报道称他已被其所在俱乐部暂停资格。[1]北约克郡和南达勒姆板球联赛正在对此事进行调查。[1]
Saltburn队在前一场对阵Shildon Railway的比赛中，守门员创造了8次接杀的记录。[1]
A cricket match in the English coastal town of Saltburn has sparked widespread controversy after video evidence emerged of an apparent attempt to deceive officials.[1] During a fixture between Saltburn's second eleven and Norton's second eleven, a fielder allegedly snapped his fingers in synchronization with the batter's swing to trick the umpire into believing the ball had struck the edge of the bat.[1] The incident, dubbed "Clickgate," gained over 7 million views online and drew global attention to the scandal.[1]
The fielder at the center of the controversy is Brian Devine, a 38-year-old company secretary who has been nicknamed "Clicky Ponting" following the incident.[1] Devine has faced immediate consequences, losing sponsorship from a local Indian restaurant, and unverified reports suggest he has been suspended from his club.[1] The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has launched an investigation into the matter.[1] Cricket has long been regarded as a "gentleman's game," and the allegation has been widely condemned as fundamentally contrary to the sport's values.[1]