Australian Soccer Stars Accused in International Betting Scandal

Three players from Australia’s top soccer league have been arrested and charged over an alleged betting scam. They are accused of intentionally receiving yellow cards and causing penalties in games, all at the request of a South American criminal.

According to New South Wales Police, a senior A-League player is believed to have followed instructions from the mastermind. This player then coordinated with teammates to commit the infractions during specific games last year. The individuals involved in this incident have not been publicly identified by the police yet.

Junior players were found to have received $10,000 Australian dollars ($6,666) for intentionally getting yellow cards and giving away penalties to impact game outcomes, according to assistant police commissioner Michael Fitzgerald at a press conference held on Friday.

Fitzgerald mentioned that the incidents took place in November and December of the previous year, stating that "these players have let down their fans by their actions."

Three players aged 27, 32, and 33 will be going to court soon to face charges related to tampering with a betting outcome. Authorities are also looking to speak with a fourth player who is currently out of state.

While the investigators have not revealed which team the players belong to, they have mentioned that the club is located in the south-western part of Sydney. Out of the 12 teams in the league, only Macarthur FC is based in the south-west of the city.

Macarthur expressed shock over the arrests of three A-League players by NSW Police due to international law enforcement efforts targeting betting corruption linked to alleged yellow card manipulation in games.

The club stated that they are unable to provide further comments at this time due to the ongoing police investigation, but assured that they will cooperate closely with the authorities regarding this issue.

Police have not found any evidence to suggest that the senior player involved was threatened. Detective Superintendent Peter Faux also stated that there is no proof of other team players being involved in the betting activities.

According to Faux, the bets were primarily placed offshore, particularly in South America. There is no indication that the betting originated from Australia.

The league confirmed that they were aware of the arrests and emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of the game. They are working closely with relevant agencies on this issue.

Editor's P/S:

The alleged betting scam