Three football players from Australia’s top division, the A-League, have been charged following an investigation into alleged betting corruption.
The investigation, known as Strike Force Beaconview, was conducted by the Organised Crime Squad. This task force was established in December 2023 by the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad Gaming Unit, with assistance from the UK’s Gambling Commission. The focus was on alleged yellow card manipulations by players from a South-Western Sydney football club.
It has been uncovered that a senior player allegedly received instructions from an individual believed to be in South America, to orchestrate yellow cards during specific games in exchange for money.
The alleged yellow card manipulations occurred in matches on 24 November 2023 and 9 December 2023, with unsuccessful attempts reported on 20 April 2024 and 4 May 2024.
As a result, three players aged 33, 27, and 32 are scheduled to appear in court on 24 June, 27 June, and 30 May, respectively.
While the team of the players was not disclosed by New South Wales Police, various reports cited a statement from A-League side Macarthur FC: “Integrity of our game is a foundation pillar and we will work closely with all relevant agencies on this matter.”
The A-League also released a statement, emphasizing: “The work to protect the integrity of our game must be unwavering and we are liaising closely with all relevant agencies on this matter. Given the ongoing nature of the investigation and police enquiries, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
In related news, at the beginning of this month, Sandro Tonali received a two-month suspended suspension and a £20,000 fine for betting offenses.
