SIDNEY– Three A-League players were arrested on Friday for alleged betting corruption after police alleged they manipulated the number of yellow cards they received in games last year, Football Australia said.
New South Wales State Police began an investigation in December 2023. Six months later, detectives revealed that a “senior player” had been instructed by a man – believed to be based in South America – to organize players who receive yellow cards. during money matches.
Police have not publicly identified any of the accused players, but investigators said all three are linked to a club based in Sydney’s southwest. They were scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Police say yellow cards were tampered with during games played on November 24 and December 9 last year. They also allege that failed attempts were made during the April 20 and May 4 matches.
Local media said police executed a search warrant in South Coogee, in Sydney’s east, on Friday and arrested a 33-year-old man. Two men, aged 32 and 27, were arrested in Sydney’s western suburbs.
Media reports quoted police as saying the eldest of the trio is expected to be charged with two counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts the outcome of an event bet and two counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts the outcome of a bet.
The other two players will be charged with engaging in conduct that corrupts the outcome of an event bet.
Football Australia said it was “informed of the arrests of three male A-League players”.
“Football Australia is co-operating fully with the Organized Crime Squad, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Sport Integrity Australia and the New South Wales Crime Commission in this matter,” it added in the statement.
The A-League season is in the playoffs stage, with two semi-finals scheduled for this weekend to determine which teams will face each other in the grand final on May 25. The A-League men’s competition has 11 clubs based in Australia and one in New Zealand.
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