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A senior A-League footballer paid colleagues up to $10,000 to deliberately hand out yellow cards in at least one match, NSW police have alleged.
Strike Force Beaconview was established in December 2023 to investigate alleged manipulation of yellow cards by players linked to an A-League club in south-west Sydney.
Police have charged three A-League footballers from Macarthur FC, including captain Ulises Davila, with involvement in a criminal gang.
“We will allege that these players deliberately handed out yellow cards in the receipt and for the purpose of a corrupt payment,” Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said.
One of the players has been hit with an additional charge of engaging in conduct that damaged the outcome of a bet for another game in November 2023.
NSW Police are seeking to interview another player, who is currently interstate, and will seek his extradition if he does not return.
“The police will allege that the senior member of this criminal football ring paid the junior players in that ring up to $10,000 to deliberately hand out these yellow cards and receive penalties during these games,” Fitzgerald said.
“Police will allege that this high-ranking figure in this criminal group was acting under the instruction and direction of an organized crime figure who is currently offshore in South America.”
Investigators said there was no indication at this stage that another A-League club was involved in the alleged corruption.
At this stage, all betting related to the alleged corrupt activity is believed to have taken place overseas, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts.
Around 6 a.m. today, detectives executed multiple search warrants, arresting a 33-year-old man, a 27-year-old man and a 32-year-old man.
The 33-year-old man was charged with two counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts the outcome of betting on an event, facilitating conduct that corrupts the outcome of betting on an event and participating in a criminal group.
He was bailed to appear in court on June 24.
The 27-year-old man has been charged with committing acts that impair the outcome of betting and participating in a criminal group.
He was bailed to appear in court on June 27.
The 32-year-old man has been charged with committing actions that impair the outcome of betting on an event and participating in a criminal group.
He was bailed to appear in court on May 30.
Football Australia said they have been made aware of the arrests and are fully cooperating with the investigation.
“Football Australia will not be making any further comment at this stage as the investigation continues,” the body said in a statement.
The investigation continues.
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