The chairman of the ECB, Lord MacLaurin, has once again backed Alec Stewart in the wake of Sir Paul Condon's report into cricket corruption.

Stewart has always denied an allegation that he received money from a bookmaker in exchange for information.

And Lord MacLaurin has given Stewart his backing, insisting: "The allegation against Alec was totally unsubstantiated."

Asked on BBC radio if he knew of any English players involved, he said: "I do not know of any allegations against any England player.

"The only situation we dealt with was with Alec Stewart. I spoke with him and he denied being involved.

"Lord Condon has interviewed Alec once and will do it again. The allegation against Alec was totally unsubstantiated."

But Lord MacLaurin has reiterated his view that any players found guilty of corruption should face the severest possible penalty – a life ban from the game.

He said: "I have said that my board at the ECB will take a strong view if any of our players transgressed.

"My own view - and it might be thought to be strong - is that we would have life bans. You can't suspend people for six or nine months. They come back and the game has to do without them.

"We have our own disciplinary committee here but it would be wrong to say it is not happening here, that it is in someone else's backyard. If it is happening here let us clear it up."

Speaking about the report in general, the ECB chief said: "It is a thorough report and initially goes back to the 1970s. It sets a scene of how things have developed in a very sad way for the game. I have always said when the first allegations came out it was the tip of the iceberg. It has got worse recently and Lord Condon has highlighted that.

"It is very sad. Lord Condon has had an opportunity to go round the cricketing countries and his findings will be referred to the ICC meeting in June.

"It is clear that the ICC under Sir Malcolm Gray, its new president, has some strong talking to do. It is up to the ICC and our own boards to clean up the game.

"Administrators have to be very strong and I would hope that all Test-playing nations would have a collective desire to clear up anyone who has transgressed in the past and is still playing. Clearly they should not go on playing.

"Millions follow cricket and we cannot have it besmirched by anyone transgressing.

"The Indian board have made some strong decisions. Now it is up to all Test nations to clear it up and move on."

© CricInfo Ltd.