Latest news with #RikuDanzaki
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Football Australia to face integrity investigation after two match-fixing scandals in the space of 12 months
Football Australia is under official scrutiny following a second A-League match-fixing scandal in just 12 months. Victoria's gambling regulator has announced it will conduct a formal 'suitability review' of Football Australia's integrity framework. The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) will lead the investigation during the 2025–26 financial year. This review comes after Western United midfielder Riku Danzaki was charged with 10 offences related to match-fixing. Police allege Danzaki deliberately received yellow cards in A-League matches across April and May this year. Victoria Police's Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit charged two men linked to the scandal. The pair were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 31. One of the men is a 24-year-old from West Melbourne, and the other is a 27-year-old from Kingsville. Both men have been bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 31. Western United confirmed a player had been charged, stating, 'We take this matter seriously.' The club said it is cooperating fully with authorities but declined to comment further. Football Australia responded by issuing no-fault interim suspensions to both charged individuals. 'The suspensions will remain in place until further notice,' Football Australia said in a statement. The Australian Professional Leagues also confirmed a player had been charged. A spokesperson said, 'The integrity of our sport is something that has to be protected without compromise.' This marks the second time in a year that yellow card betting allegations have rocked the A-League. In May 2024, Macarthur FC players Ulises Davila, Kearyn Bacchus and Clayton Lewis were charged by NSW Police. Those charges also involved the alleged manipulation of yellow card outcomes for betting purposes. The VGCCC labelled the latest allegations 'concerning' and signalled deeper examination of Football Australia's controls. 'This will include looking at the activities FA allows betting on, such as yellow cards,' a VGCCC spokesperson said. Football Australia confirmed it had been notified of the impending review in April. 'Football Australia welcomes the opportunity to continue to refine our vigilance against integrity threats,' it stated. It said integrity challenges affect all sports globally and require unified efforts from regulators and agencies. 'The job on integrity is never complete as offenders are becoming more and more sophisticated,' it added. Under Victorian law, Football Australia is a designated sports controlling body. This status gives it the power to negotiate betting markets and oversee soccer's integrity. It also allows Football Australia to receive a portion of gambling revenue, including bets on yellow cards. In 2023, Four Corners revealed that Football Australia permitted bets on all tiers of football. This includes international fixtures, national leagues, and even amateur suburban matches. In contrast, leagues like the AFL and NRL restrict gambling to their top two professional levels. Melbourne University's Professor Jack Anderson said the review would likely question the scope of permitted bets. 'Are some of these bets presenting such a risk that they should be struck off?' he asked. Anderson said yellow card manipulation is a growing problem worldwide. 'It's very discrete. A player can generate a yellow card almost to the minute,' he said. The issue is not limited to Australia, with global football also grappling with similar cases. Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who plays for West Ham United, is currently under investigation. The UK Football Association charged Paqueta over alleged yellow card spot-fixing in the Premier League. If found guilty, he could face a lifetime ban from football. Paqueta has denied all allegations and continues to defend his innocence.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Football Australia facing integrity probe amid match-fixing allegations
Football Australia is being investigated over its ability to protect the sport's integrity as it grapples with the A-League's second match-fixing scandal in 12 months. ABC Investigations can reveal the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission will launch a 'suitability review' of Football Australia that will examine the governing body's integrity measures, as well as the range of betting markets it allows on soccer games in Australia. The revelations of the probe come after Victoria Police this week charged 25-year-old Western United player Riku Danzaki with 10 match-fixing charges for allegedly intentionally receiving yellow cards during A-League matches in April and May. In May last year, NSW Police charged Macarthur FC players Ulises Davila, Kearyn Bacchus and Clayton Lewis with match-fixing offences also allegedly involving yellow cards. The VGCCC says the latest match-fixing allegations involving the Western United player were "concerning." "The VGCCC will conduct a suitability review of FA in the 2025–26 financial year to assess its ability to ensure the integrity of its events," the regulator said in statement. "This will include looking at the activities FA allows betting on, such as yellow cards. "The scope of the FA review is yet to be finalised but will focus on the legislated integrity requirements of sports controlling bodies." In a statement, Football Australia said the VGCCC informed it of the review in April. "Football Australia welcomes the opportunity to continue to refine our vigilance against integrity threats," it said. "Football Australia subscribes to continual vigilance in our standards to meet this challenge, but it's something that all Australian and international sports, regulators and government agencies must do together, as this stain isn't unique to footy players. "The job on integrity is never complete as offenders are becoming more and more sophisticated." Under Victoria's gambling laws, Football Australia is a designated "sports controlling body", which gives it the responsibility to oversee integrity of soccer and the power to negotiate with betting companies about the range of events on which they can offer bets. It also enables Football Australia to earn a portion of the revenue of gambling on soccer games – including bets on the number of yellow cards in a match. Football Australia has similar powers and responsibilities under New South Wales gambling laws. In 2023, Four Corners revealed Football Australia was allowing bookmakers to offer bets on all levels of the sport – from international games to amateur suburban matches. Most other major sporting bodies, such as the AFL and NRL, only allow betting on first and second-tier professional competitions. While the VGCCC has not disclosed the terms of reference for its inquiry, Melbourne University sports law expert Jack Anderson said it would likely focus on the range of gambling Football Australia allows on all levels of professional and amateur soccer in the country. "Probably what [the regulator] is doing is saying, yes, we have agreed that Football Australia can allow a range of bets on football. But are some of these bets presenting such a risk that they should be struck off and not offered?" he said. Professor Anderson said soccer governing bodies and authorities around the world are grappling with rising instances of alleged match fixing involving yellow cards, which is one of the few elements of play in the sport that can be influenced by a single player. "It's very discrete, in that a player can effect the foul that generates the yellow card. And they can do it almost to the minute, or to a particular time in the game." Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who plays with English Premier League side West Ham United, is facing a possible lifetime ban after the UK Football Association charged him with allegedly intentionally receiving yellow cards as part of a spot-fixing operation. Paqueta has denied any wrongdoing.
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.
Kyodo News
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Japanese footballer in Australia arrested in betting scandal
KYODO NEWS - 3 hours ago - 23:32 | Sports, All, World 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. Related coverage: Over 3 million people gamble online despite ban in Japan: police Record number of online casino users detected by Japan police in 2024
Kyodo News
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Japanese footballer in Australia arrested in betting scandal
KYODO NEWS - 5 minutes ago - 23:32 | Sports, All, World 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. Related coverage: Over 3 million people gamble online despite ban in Japan: police Record number of online casino users detected by Japan police in 2024
