Aussie soccer athletes taken into custody for suspected global betting scandal
A top soccer player is accused of receiving orders from the mastermind and coordinating fouls with teammates in certain matches last year, according to the New South Wales Police. The accused have not been identified by the police.
Juvenile players were promised AUD 10,000 (USD 6,666) for obtaining yellow cards and conceding penalties in those games to sway results, revealed Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald at a press conference on Friday.
During the press conference, he disclosed that the alleged occurrences took place in November and December of last year, and mocked that "these players betrayed the trust of their fans."
Three players aged 27, 32, and 33 will face court hearings later this month and next month, facing charges related to "conduct that corrupts the outcome of a betting event." Officials are still searching for a fourth player, who is currently outside the state, for questioning.
Investigators have not mentioned the players' team, but stated that they are associated with a side located in Sydney's south-west. There are three teams based in Sydney, but only one, Macarthur FC, is situated on the city's south-western side.
Macarthur released a statement, saying, "The club is astonished and is aware that three A-League players have been detained by the NSW Police in relation to suspected betting corruption involving alleged yellow card manipulation in matches." The club stated that it couldn't comment further because of the ongoing police investigation, and would assist authorities in their inquires.
Detective Superintendent Peter Faux stated that officers found no proof of the senior player being threatened or other teams' players being involved in the scheme. He added that the bets were placed overseas, mostly in South America, without detecting any connection to Australia.
The league issued a statement, saying they were conscious of the arrests. "We are dedicated to ensuring the integrity of our sport and are working closely with all concerned agencies on this matter."
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The soccer scandal involvingAustralia's athletes has drawn international attention due to its potential impacts on the world of sports. Despite the arrests of several players, an investigation is ongoing to apprehend a fourth individual who is currently outside the state.
Source: edition.cnn.com
