Former A-League player Riku Danzaki blames $16k fraud on late pay

7NEWS

2 days ago

Former A-League club Western United's 'significant financial strain' led a player to commit betting fraud by recklessly tackling the opposition to receive yellow cards, his lawyer claims.
Ex-midfielder Riku Danzaki pleaded guilty to seven charges at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday over a betting fraud he committed with a friend who played in an amateur soccer club.
The fraud netted the 25-year-old about $16,000 across three games between April and May and his co-accused — Bayside Argonauts striker Yuta Hirayama — received about $5200.
Danzaki admitted deliberately receiving yellow cards for reckless tackles on opposition players, including games against Sydney Football Club on April 27 and Adelaide United on May 9.
He and Hirayama discussed placing bets on games both in person and on the LINE messaging app.
Hirayama would place bets on Danzaki's individual performance, including that Danzaki would receive a yellow card, while knowing he would deliberately try and receive them.
The pair agreed to split the winnings from their bets — 70 per cent for Danzaki and 30 per cent for Hirayama.
In a match against Auckland, on May 3, Danzaki tried to get a yellow card twice, by kicking opponents in reckless tackles, but the referee did not give him one.
He was then taken out of the match but his substituted player received a yellow card so Sportsbet paid out the bet.
The pair netted about $10,000 from the match and went to the Melbourne CBD to 'celebrate their betting success', prosecutor Alex Turner told the court.
Their rort came undone after they tried to place a single fraudulent bet on a game between Western United and Melbourne City on May 22.
Tabcorp rejected their bet because of concerns over a large stake on one player and reported suspicious wagering to police.
Danzaki's lawyer Lewis Winter said his client was 'profoundly ashamed', embarrassed and remorseful and accepted the offending was serious.
'He accepts that he's undermined the integrity of the A-League profession and undermined the integrity of these betting markets,' the defence lawyer told the court.
Originally from Japan, Danzaki joined the A-League as a Brisbane Roar player in November 2020 before moving to the Scottish first division, Mr Winter said.
But Danzaki wasn't getting game time in Scotland so he left to go to Western United in Melbourne.
'He had to pay a $40,000 contract termination fee to the club in Scotland,' Mr Winter said.
'When Mr Danzaki arrived in Australia he's already under some financial stress.'
He said Western United were already under 'significant financial strain' when Danzaki joined them, in mid-2023.
'They were not paying their players on time and they were not paying their players any superannuation,' Winter said, adding that by November 2024 Danzaki also had a newborn baby to support.
'It is in this context ... that Mr Danzaki makes a very foolish decision.'
Winter pointed out that Western United had since gone into administration and their A-League licence was revoked over the weekend.
He said the matter had drawn significant media attention, particularly in Japan, and Danzaki's mother had refused to speak to him since he was charged.
'He accepts he has dishonoured himself and dishonoured his family,' Winter said.
He asked for Danzaki to be given a 'significant fine' for the offending.
Magistrate Nick Goodenough confirmed he was not considering imprisoning the pair.
Hirayama also pleaded guilty to seven betting corruption charges and his lawyer Molly Deighton said he recognised he made a 'very poor decision' engaging in the conduct.
Danzaki and Hirayama will be sentenced on August 22.