Football Match-Fixing Scandal: Two Australian Players Took Yellow Cards Intentionally for Money
Sydney: Two professional footballers in Australia have admitted in a Sydney court to intentionally receiving yellow cards during matches as part of a match-fixing scheme orchestrated for financial gain. The players were paid significant sums of money by criminals for deliberately committing fouls that forced referees to book them.
The scandal occurred in the highly popular A-League Championship. The accused players — Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis, both midfielders — were allegedly influenced by former Macarthur Bulls captain Ulises Dávila, who acted as a middleman between the players and a criminal betting syndicate based in Colombia.
The criminal charges, filed in May 2024, claim that Baccus and Lewis deliberately committed offenses during specific matches in 2023 and 2024 — such as intentionally kicking opponents — to receive yellow cards as instructed. These incidents were allegedly tied to illegal bets placed on those matches, with the outcomes of the bookings impacting the betting results.
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Dávila, 33, is accused of coordinating between the players and the syndicate. According to the police, the players were promised and received up to AUD 10,000 (approximately ₹5.62 lakh) for their involvement. Authorities believe that tens of thousands of dollars were exchanged in this illegal betting racket.
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The court will determine the punishment for Baccus (33) and Lewis (27) in September. Dávila is facing nine criminal charges, and his hearing is scheduled for next month. Following his arrest, the Macarthur Bulls terminated Dávila’s contract. Baccus has also been released from the team, while Lewis has been suspended pending further investigation.