Former All White and A-League teammate admit roles in betting scandal
Ex-Macarthur Bulls team captain Ulises Davila, and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and former All White Clayton Lewis were charged with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024.
Davila, 33, allegedly acted as the conduit between the southwest Sydney team's players and an unnamed criminal group in Colombia, organising for the cards to occur during particular games.
Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, were allegedly paid up to $10,000 (NZ$10,899) by the former captain to deliberately receive the referee-issued cautions for foul play.
The midfielders pleaded guilty on Thursday to engaging in conduct that corrupted the betting outcome of an event.
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A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn.
A-League club Macarthur FC midfielder Kearyn Baccus. (Source: Getty)
Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors.
Both former A-League players maintained blank faces as their pleas were entered.
The pair would be sentenced in September.
Davila, the alleged local ringleader of the criminal group behind the betting corruption, has yet to enter pleas to the nine charges he faced.
He would return to court in August.
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Gaming-machine records and bookmaker statements from BetPlay Colombia, Bet365 New Jersey and Bet365 Bulgaria comprised part of a lengthy brief of evidence being prepared by prosecutors.
Police saind the betting scheme led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.
Davila's contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his initial arrest, which the team described in a statement as mutual agreement.
Baccus was released by the Bulls during a 2024 off-season clean-out and Lewis remained suspended.
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