Japanese Soccer Star Riku Danzaki Faces A-League Gambling Fraud Charge

Prosecutors in Australia have accused the Japanese soccer star Riku Danzaki of deliberately receiving yellow cards during A-League games to manipulate the outcome of sports bets.

The news agencies Newswire (via News.com.au) and Kyodo (via Mainichi) reported that Danzaki, of the Melbourne-based A-League club Western United, is facing 10 charges.

Among these is the accusation that he deliberately received yellow cards in A-League matches between April and May this year.

The attacking midfielder, aged 25, heard the charges without entering a plea at the Magistrates Court of Victoria in Melbourne.

Procecutors Claim Danzaki Intentionally Committed a Foul

Prosecutors charged Danzaki alongside his countryman Yuta Hirayama, a 27-year-old student and amateur footballer.

Officials claimed that the duo conspired to place an AUS$250 ($164.51) bet that Danzaki would receive a yellow card during at least one A-League game.

Prosecution officials claim that Danzaki intentionally committed a foul during the match in question, with the referee cautioning him for dangerous play.

The men are accused of placing similar bets in other matches, winning some AU$17,000 ($11,070) in the process.

Danzaki has represented his country at the under-18 level. He played in the national team that finished as runners-up in the 2018 SBS Cup.

Danzaki previously played for J-League sides like Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and JEF United Chiba. He also had a brief spell at the Scottish Premiership team Motherwell.

During his time in Australia, he has played for Brisbane Roar, where he won the Golden Boot award for the 2020-2021 season.

Danzaki joined Western United in 2023.

Multiple Charges Against Danzaki

Court documents show that the Danzaki will face four charges of engaging in conduct intended to corrupt a betting outcome.

Prosecutors have also charged the men with four counts of facilitating corrupt conduct and using corrupt conduct information for betting-related purposes.

Officials also believe that Danzaki tried to commit fouls in an attempt to receive a booking during an away match on May 3, but failed in his efforts.

Match records show that Danzaki was substituted in the 72nd minute. Ironically, his replacement saw yellow five minutes after Danzaki left the pitch.

However, prosecution officials allege he was more successful days later, when Western United beat Adelaide United 3-2 at home. Danzaki picked up a yellow card in the 73rd minute.

Prosecutors say that Danzaki attempted to test his luck again ahead of Western’s May 24 derby semi-finals match against Melbourne City.

Ahead of the match, he allegedly conspired to place an AUS$1,000 ($659.19) bet that he would be booked during the crunch match, during which City beat Western 4-1 on aggregate and advance to the A League Finals.

Again, his alleged efforts to end up in the referee’s book were frustrated, prosecutors say, when he was substituted in the 78th minute.

Court to Reconvene in Mid-August

Danzaki’s legal team asked the court for a three-week adjournment, which Magistrate Tara Hartnett granted. The court will reconvene on August 13.

Prosecutors charged Hirayama with 16 offences. He plays for Bayside Argonauts, a community club based in Cheltenham, Victoria.

Hirayama’s legal team told the court that their client’s case had been resolved with a plea.

In Japan, recent crackdowns on illegal online gambling have seen police and prosecutors charge several top sports stars with using casino apps.

The crackdown has thus far mainly focused on pro baseball, the most popular sports league in Japan.