Latest news with #Danzaki
Japan Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
2 Japanese footballers in Australia accused of A-league match-fixing
Two Japanese footballers, including an Australian A-League player, have attended a pretrial procedure at a Melbourne court where they faced accusations of collaborating on betting fraud related to A-league matches, according to court documents. Riku Danzaki, a 25-year-old midfielder for Melbourne-based A-League club Western United, faces several charges, including allegedly deliberately receiving yellow cards during matches between April and May to manipulate betting outcomes, his charge sheet from the proceedings at the Magistrates Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Monday showed. Yuta Hirayama, 27, a student who plays for a local soccer team in Victoria and is a friend of Danzaki, was charged with using information about Danzaki's alleged plans to bet on the matches. The two men, who were accused of together winning at least AU$17,000 ($11,070) through the bets, did not enter formal pleas. They were arrested on May 30 and later released on bail. Danzaki joined Western United in Australian football's top division in 2023 after playing for Brisbane Roar in the league. He made his professional debut in 2019 for Consadole Sapporo, playing in the J-League first division, before stints with clubs including J2 outfit JEF United Chiba and Scottish side Motherwell. Hirayama played last season with the Bayside Argonauts after several years playing for clubs in Queensland, according to the Herald Sun newspaper. © KYODO
The Mainichi
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
2 Japanese footballers in Australia accused of A-league match-fixing
MELBOURNE (Kyodo) -- Two Japanese footballers, including an Australian A-League player, have attended a pretrial procedure at a Melbourne court where they faced accusations of collaborating on betting fraud related to A-league matches, according to court documents. Riku Danzaki, a 25-year-old midfielder for Melbourne-based A-League club Western United, faces several charges, including allegedly deliberately receiving yellow cards during matches between April and May to manipulate betting outcomes, his charge sheet from the proceedings at the Magistrates Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Monday showed. Yuta Hirayama, 27, a student who plays for a local soccer team in Victoria and is a friend of Danzaki, was charged with using information about Danzaki's alleged plans to bet on the matches. The two men, who were accused of together winning at least AU$17,000 ($11,070) through the bets, did not enter formal pleas. They were arrested on May 30 and later released on bail. Danzaki joined Western United in Australian football's top division in 2023 after playing for Brisbane Roar in the league. He made his professional debut in 2019 for Consadole Sapporo, playing in the J-League first division, before stints with clubs including J2 outfit JEF United Chiba and Scottish side Motherwell. Hirayama played last season with the Bayside Argonauts after several years playing for clubs in Queensland, according to the Herald Sun newspaper.
The Age
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Two Melbourne-based soccer players front court over match-fixing allegations
Two Melbourne-based soccer players have fronted court to face a raft of match-fixing charges amid allegations one of them deliberately elicited yellow cards to manipulate the outcome of online bets as part of an elaborate fraud scheme. Japanese-born Western United A-League midfielder Riku Danzaki has been charged with 10 offences, including allegations he deliberately received a yellow card during a match between Western United Football Club and Sydney Football Club on April 27 as part of an illegal betting ring. Danzaki, 25, whose contract was not extended by Western United at the end of the 2025 season, is also accused of attempting to profit from the scheme by placing a bet in an attempt to win thousands of dollars. He appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday where his lawyer asked for him to be considered for a diversion program to avoid criminal conviction. Among a spate of other charges, Danzaki is accused of entering into an 'agreement or arrangement' that 'corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome' with the intention of obtaining financial advantage or causing financial disadvantage in connection with betting for matches between April 26 and May 22 this year. Loading Danzaki's co-accused, Yuta Hirayama, a striker for the Bayside Argonauts, also appeared in court charged with 17 offences, including several counts of using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes and facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome. Charge sheet documents released by the Melbourne Magistrates' Court allege Hirayama knew that Danzaki would receive a yellow card during the April 27 match and used that information to place a $250 at Bet365 at odds of $6.50 to win $1375. Hirayama is accused of also possessing information that Danzaki would receive a yellow card during a match between Western United and Auckland Football Club on May 3. He then allegedly used that information to place several more bets, including a $213 bet with Bet365, where he made a profit of almost $1600.
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Update in alleged A-League 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. Riku Danzaki totalled six goals and 10 assists across 49 league games. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia 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 attended court with his lawyer Lewis Winter (right). NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia 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. Bayside Argonauts striker Yuta Hirayama is expected to return to court. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia 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.
The Mainichi
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Japanese footballer in Australia arrested in betting scandal
SYDNEY (Kyodo) -- A Japanese footballer playing on an Australian A-League team has been arrested for alleged involvement in a betting scandal, Australian authorities said. Riku Danzaki, 25, a midfielder for Melbourne-based A-League club Western United, is suspected of deliberately receiving yellow cards during matches to manipulate betting outcomes, local media said. According to Victoria Police and local media, Danzaki has been charged with 10 offences committed across four matches between April and May. He was arrested last Friday alongside another man and has since been released on bail. The pair are due to appear in court on July 31. A native of Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Danzaki was a high school football star in Japan, winning a national championship with renowned talent factory Aomori Yamada High School. The midfielder made his professional debut in 2019 for Consadole Sapporo, playing in the J-League first division, before stints with clubs including J2 outfit JEF United Chiba and Scottish side Motherwell. Danzaki found his greatest success in Australian football's top division, the A-League, first while on loan to Brisbane Roar, and most recently with Western United, who he joined in 2023.
