Shohei Ohtani's interpreter fired after reports of theft

Baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani's long-time interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers after allegations of theft connected to illegal gambling.

According to ESPN, at least $4.5m (£3.5m) was transferred from Ohtani's bank account to a bookmaker. Ohtani is not accused of wrongdoing.

Mr Mizuhara spoke to the sports network about his gambling debts on Tuesday.

The news comes as Ohtani made his regular season debut with the Dodgers.

The team's senior communications director has told the BBC that they are gathering information and that they "can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated".

ESPN has said it reviewed bank information showing Ohtani's name on two $500,000 payments, one sent in September and the other in October, to a bookmaking operation run by Mathew Bowyer.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Mr Bowyer was investigated by a prosecution team targeting a multimillion-dollar illegal sports betting scheme but was not charged with a crime.

Sports betting is legal in 38 states in America but it remains illegal in California.

Major League Baseball has its own policy that bans "any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee" from betting on any baseball game and placing bets with illegal bookmakers.

It is not known whether any of Mr Mizuhara's sports gambling involved baseball games. No one has alleged that Ohtani placed any bets.

Mr Mizuhara reportedly said in his interview with ESPN that he had asked the baseball star for help with his gambling debts.

"Obviously, [Ohtani] wasn'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 had zero involvement in betting. I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again."

A spokesman for Ohtani initially told ESPN that the former Los Angeles Angels star had transferred funds to cover his interpreter's gambling debts but he has since recanted this account.

Mr Mizuhara himself has reportedly changed his story, now saying that Ohtani did not know about the gambling debts and did not transfer the money.

The LA Times has reported that Ohtani's attorneys have since accused his interpreter of "massive theft".

"In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities," a statement to the newspaper from West Hollywood law firm Berk Brettler read.

The BBC has contacted the law firm for confirmation.

The news comes as Ohtani played in the Los Angeles Dodgers' season opener in Seoul. Mr Mizuhara had been with him this week in South Korea for the series against the San Diego Padres, which has drawn legions of fans.

Ahead of the second game in the series on Thursday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts repeatedly declined to comment on the issues between Mr Mizuhara and Ohtani. He only said that his star player would take the field as normal.

"Shohei's ready - ready to go for tonight's game," he said.

Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700m contract with the Dodgers before this season, becoming the face of the sports franchise. He had just won his second unanimous American League MVP award.

His stint in the US started in 2018, and Mr Mizuhara has been a constant companion. He and his wife were recently seen in a picture that revealed Mr Ohtani's wife, Mamiko Tanaka, after weeks of speculation.

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

Additional reporting by Mattea Bubalo