Australian football has been rocked by a major integrity scandal after four players were banned for several years for their involvement in match-fixing offences in the A-League.
Football Australia confirmed the sanctions following investigations into deliberate attempts by players to influence betting markets by intentionally receiving yellow cards during matches.
The governing body said the bans were necessary to protect the integrity of the sport and send a clear message that corruption would not be tolerated at any level of the game.
Kearyn Baccus and former New Zealand international Clayton Lewis were each handed five-year bans from all football-related activity after being found guilty of deliberately getting themselves booked in Macarthur FC’s match against Sydney FC in December 2023.
The pair were each paid A$10,000 (£4,940) for their actions, which were linked to illegal betting activity.
Both players left Macarthur FC after being charged by police in 2024 and were later sentenced in September to a two-year conditional release order by an Australian court. Football Australia ruled that the sporting sanctions would take effect from May 2024, reflecting the seriousness of their offences and the damage caused to public trust.
However, the bans were reduced by 12 months after Baccus and Lewis accepted an offer to complete 200 hours of unpaid, football-related community service.
The governing body said the option was designed to promote education and rehabilitation while still delivering meaningful punishment.
Two other players received even harsher penalties. Former Western United midfielder Riku Danzaki and Japanese compatriot Yuta Hirayama were both banned for seven years from all football activity, effective from June 2025.
Danzaki pleaded guilty in August to deliberately earning yellow cards in multiple A-League matches during April and May, in a scheme designed to profit from betting markets. He admitted receiving A$16,000 (£7,900), money generated from bets placed by his friend Hirayama, an amateur player who was also implicated in the case.
Football Australia said the extended bans reflected the repeated nature of the offences and the level of planning involved. Officials stressed that deliberate manipulation of match events, even seemingly minor actions such as yellow cards, poses a serious threat to the credibility of football.
“All four individuals have chosen not to exercise their right to appeal and have accepted the sanctions,” Football Australia said in a statement. “These decisions underline the strength of the evidence and the seriousness of the conduct involved.”
The case has reignited debate about the vulnerability of football to betting-related corruption, particularly in leagues where players may earn relatively modest salaries compared to the global elite. Integrity experts have long warned that spot-fixing — manipulating specific moments within games rather than results — can be difficult to detect and increasingly attractive to criminal networks.
Football Australia said it is continuing to invest in integrity education programmes for players, coaches and officials, with a focus on raising awareness of the risks and consequences associated with gambling and match manipulation. The governing body also works closely with law enforcement agencies and betting monitoring systems to identify suspicious patterns.
The A-League has faced scrutiny in recent years as betting markets around the competition have grown, attracting attention from international gamblers. Officials insist the latest sanctions demonstrate that robust systems are in place to identify wrongdoing and punish offenders.
For the players involved, the bans are likely to bring their professional careers to an abrupt end. A five- or seven-year suspension from all football-related activity effectively removes any realistic prospect of returning to the professional game.
While the scandal has cast a shadow over Australian football, authorities hope the decisive action will reinforce confidence in the integrity of the A-League. Football Australia concluded that protecting the credibility of the competition must remain a priority, warning that any attempt to manipulate matches would be met with severe consequences.
