Two former A-League players have admitted engaging in a betting corruption scandal after they were paid to earn yellow cards during games.
Ex-Macarthur Bulls team captain Ulises Davila, and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis, have been charged with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024.
Davila, 33, allegedly acted as the conduit between the south-west Sydney team’s players and an unnamed criminal group in Colombia, organising for the cards to occur during particular games.
Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, were allegedly paid up to $10,000 by the former captain to deliberately receive the referee-issued cautions for foul play.
The midfielders pleaded guilty today to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event.
A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn.
Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors.
Both former A-League players maintained blank faces as their pleas were entered.
The pair will face sentencing in September.
Davila, the alleged local ringleader of the criminal group behind the betting corruption, has not yet entered pleas to the nine charges he faces.
He will return to court in August.
Gaming-machine records and bookmaker statements from BetPlay Colombia, Bet365 New Jersey and Bet365 Bulgaria comprise part of a lengthy brief of evidence being prepared by prosecutors.
Police say the betting scheme led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.
Davila’s contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his initial arrest, which the team described in a statement as mutual.
Baccus was released by the Bulls during a 2024 off-season clean-out and Lewis remains suspended.
There are many different ways to get help and information about gambling. You can visit the National Gambling Helpline or call on 1800 858 858.
