Latest news with #bettingcorruption
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How fallen A-League star admitted his role in shameful betting scandal - 'earn a little bit of coin'
A former A-League player admitted to deliberately earning a yellow card 'to earn a little bit of coin' during a covertly recorded conversation in a police cell, a court has heard. Clayton Lewis, fellow midfielder Kearyn Baccus and a third player have been accused of manipulating yellow cards during matches in 2023 and 2024. The other footballer, 33, is yet to enter pleas to nine charges. Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, swapped football jerseys for crisp shirts as they faced a Sydney Local Court this week to plead guilty to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event. A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn for both midfielders, who will return to court in September for sentencing. They agreed they had been paid $10,000 each by a teammate to deliberately earn the referee-issued disciplinary cautions for foul play during a match in December 2023. A former A-League player admitted to deliberately earning a yellow card 'to earn a little bit of coin' during a covertly recorded conversation in a police cell, a court has heard (pictured, ex- Macarthur Bulls star Clayton Lewis) According to the facts agreed by both his former teammates, the third player orchestrated 50 'suspicious' bets placed on the Macarthur FC game against Sydney FC through international wagering platform Betplay. The wagers were all placed at the same time before the match started, and all involved exactly two bets of equal amounts predicting the same outcome. During the game at Allianz Stadium, the alleged ringleader earned the first of the team's four yellow cards for delaying the start of play by kicking the ball away after the referee blew the whistle. Twenty minutes later, Lewis received the same caution for unsporting behaviour after he forcefully pushed a Sky Blues player in the chest. Baccus attracted another rebuke for tackling an opponent to the ground from behind towards the end of the game. The successful bets resulted in a payout of more than $200,000 and caused the wagering operator a loss of an estimated $167,387, according to the facts. There is no evidence either Baccus or Lewis had any involvement in placing the bets, but they agreed they were both paid $10,000 after the match. Lewis was paid in three instalments, but Baccus devised a more elaborate explanation, telling his former teammate to describe it as a car payment for a Volkswagen Golf. 'If anyone asks, you (are) buying a car off me,' he said in WhatsApp messages quoted in the facts. After his arrest, Baccus told police his teammate had not yet collected the car he sold him - while maintaining he only received yellow cards for playing aggressively or in service of the team. Lewis, meanwhile, was put in a holding cell after his arrest and confessed to the other occupant that he deliberately solicited a yellow card 'to earn a little bit of coin.' The conversation was recorded with a surveillance device. Lewis was recruited to the betting corruption scheme because he was known to be a gambler and thus seen as 'influenceable', according to the facts. The trio were suspended by Macarthur FC following their arrests, with the third player set to face court in August.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Football pair plead guilty to match-fixing over yellow cards
Two professional footballers have admitted in court to engaging in betting corruption after they were paid by criminals to earn yellow cards during games. Ulises Davila, former captain of Australian A-League side Macarthur Bulls and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were charged in May 2024 with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Davila, 33, allegedly acted as the contact between the southwest Sydney club's players and a criminal group in Colombia, organizing for the yellow cards to occur during particular games. Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, were allegedly paid up to 10,000 Australian dollars ($6,550) by Davila to deliberately try to receive the referee-issued cautions for foul play. Clayton Lewis arriving at court (AAP) Baccus and Lewis pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event. A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn. Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors. The pair will face sentencing in September. Advertisement Davila has not yet entered pleas to the nine charges he faces. He will return to court next month. Police said the betting scheme led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. All players were stood down by the league. Davila's contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his arrest. Baccus was released by the Bulls during the 2024 offseason and Lewis remains suspended.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Football pair plead guilty to match-fixing over yellow cards
Two professional footballers have admitted in court to engaging in betting corruption after they were paid by criminals to earn yellow cards during games. Ulises Davila, former captain of Australian A-League side Macarthur Bulls and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were charged in May 2024 with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024. Davila, 33, allegedly acted as the contact between the southwest Sydney club's players and a criminal group in Colombia, organizing for the yellow cards to occur during particular games. Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, were allegedly paid up to 10,000 Australian dollars ($6,550) by Davila to deliberately try to receive the referee-issued cautions for foul play. Baccus and Lewis pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event. A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn. Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors. The pair will face sentencing in September. Davila has not yet entered pleas to the nine charges he faces. He will return to court next month. Police said the betting scheme led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. All players were stood down by the league. Davila's contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his arrest. Baccus was released by the Bulls during the 2024 offseason and Lewis remains suspended.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Two players plead guilty to match-fixing over yellow cards in Australian soccer's A-League
SYDNEY — Two professional players admitted in court Thursday to engaging in betting corruption after they were paid by criminals to earn yellow cards during games in Australian soccer's A-League. Former Macarthur Bulls captain Ulises Davila and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were charged in May 2024 with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Update in A-League betting scandal
Two former A-League players have admitted to their involvement in a spot fixing scheme during a series of matches last year by earning yellow cards. Ex-Bulls teammates Ulises Davila, Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus were arrested last year for betting corruption linked to a South American criminal figure. Former Macarthur FC captain Davila, is facing a string of nine charges relating to a total of six A-League games. Among those charges are four counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event, three counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event, knowingly/recklessly directing a criminal group and participating in a criminal group/ contribute to criminal activity. He has not yet entered any pleas. Lewis and Baccus were both charged with one count each of engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event and participating in a criminal group. Lewis and Baccus attended the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, and both pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event. That charges carries a maximum penalty of ten years' jail, Magistrate Rami Attia reminded the two men in court on Thursday. The second charge of participating in a criminal group/ contribute to criminal activity was withdrawn. Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty, however, after ongoing negotiations with the DPP, those pleas were withdrawn. Their co-accused, Mr Davila, did not attend and has not entered any plea. Following Mr Davila's arrest the soccer player was alleged to have organised to manipulate yellow cards against Melbourne Victory on November 24 and against Sydney FC on December 9 in 2023. Mr Davila and the club agreed to a 'mutual termination' of his contract following his arrest. It is alleged Lewis and Baccus were paid up to $10,000 by Mr Davila, who was directed by a South American contact. All three players remain on bail. Lewis and Baccus will return to court for sentencing on September 17. Davila will return to court in August. More to come …
