Three Macarthur FC players have already been charged in an Australian football match-fixing case, but now it seems that two more players could be involved in the illegal betting plot. Midfielder Kearyn Baccus appeared in court on Thursday to face charges related to receiving yellow cards during A-League matches in exchange for payment.
Baccus, along with team captain Ulises Davila and teammate Clayton Lewis, were arrested on May 17 and granted bail. They were also suspended by Football Australia under its code of conduct regulations. Documents presented in court revealed that two additional players are accused of participating in the criminal group.
Football Australia issued a statement acknowledging the allegations, clarifying that one of the players mentioned was not a suspect in the case. The New South Wales state police organized crime squad launched Strike Force Beaconview last December to investigate suspicious spot-fixing betting patterns identified with the help of British officials.
The players allegedly manipulated yellow cards during games played in November and December, with all three accused players receiving yellow cards in a match against Sydney FC. Attempts were also made during matches in April and May.
Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald expressed disappointment, stating that the players had “betrayed the trust of their supporters and the code.” Macarthur FC, a relatively new team in the A-League, finished fifth in the regular season. The league consists of 11 clubs in Australia and one in New Zealand.
Baccus’s case has been adjourned to June 24, where he is scheduled to appear at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court. Football Australia has pledged to cooperate fully with the authorities in the ongoing investigation.