Latest news with #bettingcorruption
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Riku Danzaki, Yuta Hirayama: Two Melbourne soccer players accused of betting fraud
An offer to resolve charges against a former A-League soccer player accused of betting corruption has been rejected by prosecutors, a court has been told. Riku Danzaki, 25, was arrested by police in late May amid an investigation into allegations of gambling corruption during the A-League season. The Japanese-born player, who played 49 games with Western United until his contract finished at the end of the last season, was charged with 10 offences including four counts of engaging in conduct that would corrupt a betting outcome, four counts of facilitating corrupt conduct and using corrupt conduct information for betting. At the time of his arrest, Victoria Police alleged four matches in April and May 2025 had been subject to 'player to be carded wagering manipulation'. Mr Danzaki appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday morning with the assistance of a Japanese interpreter as lawyer Lewis Winter asked the court for a three week adjournment. He did not enter a plea. Mr Winter told the court he'd put forward an offer to resolve the case with diversion, which allows some first-time accused people to avoid a criminal conviction by meeting conditions, and was awaiting a response from prosecutors. 'I would be seeking around three weeks,' he said. 'I am confident it would be considered by them.' Mr Danzaki's case was adjourned by Magistrate Tara Hartnett until August 13. But a few hours later, as a second soccer player accused of involvement in the alleged betting corruption, Yuta Hirayama, 27, appeared in court, a police prosecutor indicated diversion would not be accepted for Mr Danzaki. 'I've spoken to Mr Winter … diversion is not going to be on the table,' the prosecutor said. Mr Hirayama, who played last season with the Bayside Argonauts after several years playing for clubs in Queensland, was arrested the same day as Mr Danzaki on May 30. He was charged with 16 offences including 11 counts of using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes and four counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome. Lawyers acting for Mr Hirayama told the court the matter has been resolved with a plea however the case was stood down until the afternoon sitting. Mr Hirayama is expected to return to the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How fallen A-League star admitted his role in shameful betting scandal - 'earn a little bit of coin'
A former A-League player admitted to deliberately earning a yellow card 'to earn a little bit of coin' during a covertly recorded conversation in a police cell, a court has heard. Clayton Lewis, fellow midfielder Kearyn Baccus and a third player have been accused of manipulating yellow cards during matches in 2023 and 2024. The other footballer, 33, is yet to enter pleas to nine charges. Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, swapped football jerseys for crisp shirts as they faced a Sydney Local Court this week to plead guilty to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event. A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn for both midfielders, who will return to court in September for sentencing. They agreed they had been paid $10,000 each by a teammate to deliberately earn the referee-issued disciplinary cautions for foul play during a match in December 2023. A former A-League player admitted to deliberately earning a yellow card 'to earn a little bit of coin' during a covertly recorded conversation in a police cell, a court has heard (pictured, ex- Macarthur Bulls star Clayton Lewis) According to the facts agreed by both his former teammates, the third player orchestrated 50 'suspicious' bets placed on the Macarthur FC game against Sydney FC through international wagering platform Betplay. The wagers were all placed at the same time before the match started, and all involved exactly two bets of equal amounts predicting the same outcome. During the game at Allianz Stadium, the alleged ringleader earned the first of the team's four yellow cards for delaying the start of play by kicking the ball away after the referee blew the whistle. Twenty minutes later, Lewis received the same caution for unsporting behaviour after he forcefully pushed a Sky Blues player in the chest. Baccus attracted another rebuke for tackling an opponent to the ground from behind towards the end of the game. The successful bets resulted in a payout of more than $200,000 and caused the wagering operator a loss of an estimated $167,387, according to the facts. There is no evidence either Baccus or Lewis had any involvement in placing the bets, but they agreed they were both paid $10,000 after the match. Lewis was paid in three instalments, but Baccus devised a more elaborate explanation, telling his former teammate to describe it as a car payment for a Volkswagen Golf. 'If anyone asks, you (are) buying a car off me,' he said in WhatsApp messages quoted in the facts. After his arrest, Baccus told police his teammate had not yet collected the car he sold him - while maintaining he only received yellow cards for playing aggressively or in service of the team. Lewis, meanwhile, was put in a holding cell after his arrest and confessed to the other occupant that he deliberately solicited a yellow card 'to earn a little bit of coin.' The conversation was recorded with a surveillance device. Lewis was recruited to the betting corruption scheme because he was known to be a gambler and thus seen as 'influenceable', according to the facts. The trio were suspended by Macarthur FC following their arrests, with the third player set to face court in August.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Football pair plead guilty to match-fixing over yellow cards
Two professional footballers have admitted in court to engaging in betting corruption after they were paid by criminals to earn yellow cards during games. Ulises Davila, former captain of Australian A-League side Macarthur Bulls and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were charged in May 2024 with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Davila, 33, allegedly acted as the contact between the southwest Sydney club's players and a criminal group in Colombia, organizing for the yellow cards to occur during particular games. Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, were allegedly paid up to 10,000 Australian dollars ($6,550) by Davila to deliberately try to receive the referee-issued cautions for foul play. Clayton Lewis arriving at court (AAP) Baccus and Lewis pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event. A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn. Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors. The pair will face sentencing in September. Advertisement Davila has not yet entered pleas to the nine charges he faces. He will return to court next month. Police said the betting scheme led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. All players were stood down by the league. Davila's contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his arrest. Baccus was released by the Bulls during the 2024 offseason and Lewis remains suspended.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Football pair plead guilty to match-fixing over yellow cards
Two professional footballers have admitted in court to engaging in betting corruption after they were paid by criminals to earn yellow cards during games. Ulises Davila, former captain of Australian A-League side Macarthur Bulls and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were charged in May 2024 with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024. Davila, 33, allegedly acted as the contact between the southwest Sydney club's players and a criminal group in Colombia, organizing for the yellow cards to occur during particular games. Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, were allegedly paid up to 10,000 Australian dollars ($6,550) by Davila to deliberately try to receive the referee-issued cautions for foul play. Baccus and Lewis pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event. A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn. Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors. The pair will face sentencing in September. Davila has not yet entered pleas to the nine charges he faces. He will return to court next month. Police said the betting scheme led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. All players were stood down by the league. Davila's contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his arrest. Baccus was released by the Bulls during the 2024 offseason and Lewis remains suspended.
Washington Post
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Two players plead guilty to match-fixing over yellow cards in Australian soccer's A-League
SYDNEY — Two professional players admitted in court Thursday to engaging in betting corruption after they were paid by criminals to earn yellow cards during games in Australian soccer's A-League. Former Macarthur Bulls captain Ulises Davila and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were charged in May 2024 with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024.
