Three players in Australia’s professional football league, the A-League, have been charged by NSW Police for allegedly manipulating events within matches for gambling purposes.
The players from Sydney-based Macarthur FC includes the club’s captain, Ulises Dávila (33), plus Clayton Lewis (27) and Kearyn Baccus (32), with their arrests following an investigation by the NSW Police Organised Crime Squad Gaming Unit.
They are accused of manipulating the number of yellow cards received in matches played between 24 November and 9 December last year, and of attempting to do so in matches earlier this year.
According to local media reports, Dávila is alleged to have taken instructions from a man in South America to ensure yellow cards were handed out at specific points in matches, and of paying younger teammates AU$10,000 to help.
He subsequently received yellow cards in his side’s games against Melbourne Victory on 24 November and against Sydney FC on 9 December last year. Dávila was arrested on Friday morning and charged with various offences including conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event, while Lewis and Baccus have been charged with participating in a criminal group, among other offences.
“We will allege that the giving out of four yellow cards and the subsequent penalties that arose out of those yellow cards could in fact change the way the result of that game went,” said NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald.
“While $10,000 may seem a lot of money to a young sportsperson, we will advise that it’s incredibly insignificant when you consider the damage that being charged with this offence and conviction results in.
“We will allege that [with] these instances in November and December 2023, these players betrayed the trust of their supporters.”
Police added that the betting is alleged to have taken place in South America rather than in Australia.
In a statement, Macarthur FC said, “The club is shocked and aware of the arrests of three A-League players by NSW Police as a result of international law enforcement coordination focused on betting corruption related to alleged yellow card manipulation in games.
“Integrity of our game is a foundation pillar and we will work closely with all relevant agencies on this matter.”
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