Football Australia to face integrity investigation after two match-fixing scandals in the space of 12 months
Football Australia is under official scrutiny following a second A-League match-fixing scandal in just 12 months.
Victoria's gambling regulator has announced it will conduct a formal 'suitability review' of Football Australia's integrity framework.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) will lead the investigation during the 2025–26 financial year.
This review comes after Western United midfielder Riku Danzaki was charged with 10 offences related to match-fixing.
Police allege Danzaki deliberately received yellow cards in A-League matches across April and May this year.
Victoria Police's Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit charged two men linked to the scandal. The pair were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 31.
One of the men is a 24-year-old from West Melbourne, and the other is a 27-year-old from Kingsville.
Both men have been bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 31.
Western United confirmed a player had been charged, stating, 'We take this matter seriously.'
The club said it is cooperating fully with authorities but declined to comment further.
Football Australia responded by issuing no-fault interim suspensions to both charged individuals.
'The suspensions will remain in place until further notice,' Football Australia said in a statement.
The Australian Professional Leagues also confirmed a player had been charged.
A spokesperson said, 'The integrity of our sport is something that has to be protected without compromise.'
This marks the second time in a year that yellow card betting allegations have rocked the A-League.
In May 2024, Macarthur FC players Ulises Davila, Kearyn Bacchus and Clayton Lewis were charged by NSW Police.
Those charges also involved the alleged manipulation of yellow card outcomes for betting purposes.
The VGCCC labelled the latest allegations 'concerning' and signalled deeper examination of Football Australia's controls.
'This will include looking at the activities FA allows betting on, such as yellow cards,' a VGCCC spokesperson said.
Football Australia confirmed it had been notified of the impending review in April.
'Football Australia welcomes the opportunity to continue to refine our vigilance against integrity threats,' it stated.
It said integrity challenges affect all sports globally and require unified efforts from regulators and agencies.
'The job on integrity is never complete as offenders are becoming more and more sophisticated,' it added.
Under Victorian law, Football Australia is a designated sports controlling body.
This status gives it the power to negotiate betting markets and oversee soccer's integrity.
It also allows Football Australia to receive a portion of gambling revenue, including bets on yellow cards.
In 2023, Four Corners revealed that Football Australia permitted bets on all tiers of football.
This includes international fixtures, national leagues, and even amateur suburban matches.
In contrast, leagues like the AFL and NRL restrict gambling to their top two professional levels.
Melbourne University's Professor Jack Anderson said the review would likely question the scope of permitted bets.
'Are some of these bets presenting such a risk that they should be struck off?' he asked.
Anderson said yellow card manipulation is a growing problem worldwide.
'It's very discrete. A player can generate a yellow card almost to the minute,' he said.
The issue is not limited to Australia, with global football also grappling with similar cases.
Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who plays for West Ham United, is currently under investigation.
The UK Football Association charged Paqueta over alleged yellow card spot-fixing in the Premier League.
If found guilty, he could face a lifetime ban from football.
Paqueta has denied all allegations and continues to defend his innocence.
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