Australian footballers charged in alleged transnational betting scheme that links them to a criminal in South America

() – Three players from the main Australian football league have been arrested and charged for an alleged betting scam, accused of deliberately getting yellow cards and giving away penalties at the request of a South American criminal.

According to New South Wales Police, last year an A-League player allegedly received instructions from the mastermind of the scam and organized the violations with his teammates in certain matches. The Police have not yet given the names of those arrested.

Apparently, youth players would get 10,000 Australian dollars (US$6,666) for receiving yellow cards and awarding penalties in certain matches in order to influence the results, Deputy Police Commissioner Michael declared at a press conference this Friday. Fitzgerald.

He said the alleged crimes occurred in November and December of last year, adding that “these players betrayed the trust of their fans.”

Three players, aged 27, 32 and 33, are due to appear in court later this month and next month, accused of “conduct that corrupts the outcome of betting on an event.”

Authorities are seeking to question a fourth player, who is currently out of state, they added.

Investigators have not revealed the players’ team but said they are linked to a south-west Sydney club. Three of the league’s 12 teams are based in Sydney, but only Macarthur FC hail from the city’s southwest.

The Macarthur team said in a statement: “The club is shocked and aware of the arrests of three A-League players by New South Wales Police as a result of international law enforcement coordination focused on the corruption in betting related to the alleged manipulation of yellow cards in matches.”

He added that he could not comment “for obvious reasons and given the ongoing police investigation,” but that he will work closely with authorities on the matter.

Commissioner Peter Faux stated that the Police have found no indication that the player involved was threatened. Nor has he found evidence that players from other teams could have been complicit.

According to Faux, the bets were placed overseas, mainly in South America, and there is no trace of them coming from Australia.

The league said in a statement that it was aware of the arrests. “The work to protect the integrity of our game must be unwavering and we are working closely with all relevant bodies on this matter,” he said.