Australia Bans Former Western United & Macarthur FC Soccer Players Over Spot-Fixing

Football Australia has handed down bans to three soccer players found guilty of spot-fixing. Former Western United midfielder Riku Danzaki has been given a seven-year ban, while ex-Macarthur FC players Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus have been banned for four years.

Danzaki admitted to deliberately receiving yellow cards in two matches last season while playing for Western United. He faced criminal prosecution over the case, but avoided a prison sentence. Instead, a judge fined the 25-year-old Japanese player AU $5,000 along with co-conspirator Yuta Hirayama.

Hirayama was an amateur player and admitted to wagering on Danzaki to be booked in matches against Sydney FC on April 27 and Adelaide United on May 9. He has also been banned from playing soccer in Australia for seven years.

Lewis & Baccus Admitted to Being Bribed

Lewis and Baccus, similarly, admitted to deliberately picking up yellow cards in a match against Sydney FC in December 2023. The players both received a two-year conditional release order, similar to a good behavior bond, in September this year.

Football Australia said that if the two players complete 200 hours of unpaid football-related community service, their bans will be reduced by 12 months. Lewis and Baccus have said they are willing to do the unpaid work.

Even with the reduction, Baccus will be 37 when the ban expires, meaning it is unlikely he will play at a high level again. At 28, Lewis could make a return.

Former Captain Orchestrated Scheme

Former Macarthur captain Ulises Davila allegedly orchestrated the scheme. Davila reportedly paid the two players AU $10,000 for receiving bookings. He is accused of conspiring with a Colombian criminal known as “J Col.” Bets were placed in South America that led to payouts of over $100,000.

The veteran Mexican player pleaded guilty to two charges related to organizing and rigging betting outcomes in October and is due to be sentenced this week. Following his sentencing, he is also likely to be banned by Football Australia.

The 34-year-old has had an extensive career, including four years at Premier League club Chelsea. He did not make a first-team appearance for the club, but was instead loaned out to several other European teams.

Football Australia Under Investigation

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has initiated an investigation of Football Australia over the spot-fixing cases. The gambling regulator announced earlier this year that it will conduct a formal “suitability review” of the soccer body’s integrity framework.

One of the reasons Danzaki gave for becoming involved in spot-fixing was financial difficulties, exacerbated by Western United’s failure to pay players on time.

The A-League revoked the club’s license in August, which meant the club had not competed this season. Critics argue that the action against the club was taken too late, leading to players, such as Danzaki, facing problems last season.

Football Australia stated that it welcomed the review, saying, “Football Australia welcomes the opportunity to continue to refine our vigilance against integrity threats.”

“Football Australia subscribes to continual vigilance in our standards to meet this challenge, but it’s something that all Australian and international sports, regulators and government agencies must do together, as this stain isn’t unique to footy players. The job on integrity is never complete as offenders are becoming more and more sophisticated.”

The organization said that all four players who received bans have accepted their punishments and will not appeal. The National Rugby League in Australia has also been engulfed in a betting scandal recently, with Brandon Smith at the center of allegations that he provided bettors with inside information on team lineups.