Betting probe
\nA senior player paid his team-mates up to US$6,000 for yellow cards
\nnews agency
\nSYDNEY
\nThree footballers in Australia\u2019s top-tier A-League were arrested Friday in a betting probe, accused of taking \u201ccorrupt\u201d payments from an organised crime figure to manipulate games.
\nPolice said a senior player organised for his team-mates to give away penalties and collect yellow cards during matches in late 2023.
\nThe player was \u201cacting under the instruction and direction of an organised crime figure currently offshore in South America\u201d, NSW assistant police commissioner Michael Fitzgerald told reporters.
\nThe player, who was not named by police, paid his team-mates up to US$6,000 for yellow cards.
\n\u201cWe will allege that those players intentionally gave out yellow cards in the receipt, and for the purpose of, a corrupt payment,\u201d Fitzgerald said.
\n\u201cAll sports fans understand even one penalty can change the way the game flows and also the way the momentum of that game can be carried out,\u201d he added.
\nPunters in both Australia and overseas are able to bet on markets such as the number of yellow cards dished out during a game. Police had linked four yellow cards to the alleged payments, which they said \u201ccould in fact change the way the result of that game went\u201d.
\nDetectives are hoping to interview a fourth player.
\nWorking with the help of Britain\u2019s Gambling Commission, detectives on Friday arrested a 33-year-old man who they expected to charge with \u201cconduct that corrupts a betting outcome\u201d.
\nThey also arrested a 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old, who are facing the same charge.
\nGoverning body Football Australia said the three players belonged to an unnamed Sydney club.
\nLocal media named the club as Macarthur FC, who finished bottom of the 12-team A-League in 2022-23.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Betting probe A senior player paid his team-mates up to US$6,000 for yellow cards news agency SYDNEY Three footballers in Australia\u2019s top-tier A-League were arrested Friday in a betting probe, accused of taking \u201ccorrupt\u201d payments from an organised crime figure to manipulate games. Police said a senior player organised for his team-mates to give away […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":407780,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-407758","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n