Davila, 33, allegedly acted as the conduit between the south-west Sydney team's players and an unnamed criminal group in Colombia, organising for the cards to occur during particular games.

Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, were allegedly paid up to $10,000 by the former captain to deliberately receive the referee-issued cautions for foul play.

The midfielders pleaded guilty today to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event.

A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn.

Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors.

Both former A-League players maintained blank faces as their pleas were entered.

The pair will face sentencing in September.

Davila, the alleged local ringleader of the criminal group behind the betting corruption, has not yet entered pleas to the nine charges he faces.

He will return to court in August.

Gaming-machine records and bookmaker statements from BetPlay Colombia, Bet365 New Jersey and Bet365 Bulgaria comprise part of a lengthy brief of evidence being prepared by prosecutors.

Police say the betting scheme led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.

Davila's contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his initial arrest, which the team described in a statement as mutual.

Baccus was released by the Bulls during a 2024 off-season clean-out and Lewis remains suspended.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/former-a-league-players-admit-to-roles-in-betting-corruption-scandal/ar-AA1IjwDV?ocid=socialshare

Probably isn't a money thing. 

I have many old friends who get up to questionable behavior by society's standards. I don't think money is always the prime objective. Maybe the thrill and rebellion, or just sheer fun of doing shit you should not sometimes plays a part. 

Thats even worse mate.... 

Not necessarily. 
Davilla, Lewis and Baccus were probably 3 of the higher paid players at macarthur. 
Davilla was marquee wasn't he? 

This is all about their characters and personalities. 
Not what their salaries are. 

Hahahaha Im the same man, gambling never really held any appeal... Ill play the odd Powerball, or put a bet on the Melbourne Cup once a year but apart from that not really interested.. 

hehe nope, yer even bloody LFC amongst so many more Clubs.
I'd sooner eat and drink my $ instead of hoping to win x gambling.
Sad state of affairs to me - its all about the mighty $ no matter what and where you go.

Not even in your Aleague days LFC??? hahahahahahah



Or even the mighty Reds :)

LOL, touche eh.

I'm with you tsf, I've never been drawn into gambling/betting BUT I LOL at please gamble responsibly hahaha like WTF.

:P I know mate, just stirring.
I agree, except when its an NST club of course... hahahahah

https://www.clubmarconi.com.au/whats-on/the-poker-palace/

completely against all betting advertising 

I know right. Won't somebody think of the children?

I just really feel for the betting companies here. 

I cannot believe these heartless players potentially got deliberate yellow cards, resulting in the absolute devastation it caused these pillars of the Australian sporting community. 

The scary thing is with reduced franchise revenues and therefore player salaries, the temptation would be there for more players to try it this season... 

This version saying they're all on Oct 17th

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-22/betting-agencies-roped-into-a-league-corruption-scandal/104259000

This is the bit I'm looking forward to more detail on



Was the Ref tipped off ahead of the game ? 

Would make for an interesting marketing launch.... 

https://www.espn.com.au/football/story/_/id/40946566/betting-agencies-roped-league-men-corruption-scandal

Betting agencies roped into A-League corruption scandal

Davila and Baccus adjourned to October 17th, The day before the A-League kicks-off !

Lewis adjourned to Sep 12th

Good point. 

Not quite true, but I get your point.

Any of the players on a yellow would have to have been more careful/reluctant to challenge for the remainder of the game or risk the second yellow. It has to weigh on their minds in a split second and it is also going to affect the coaches thinking about subs.

It doesn't take much more than those things to impact on a result in a sport where a single goal or mistake can make the difference.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/aleague-2024-three-macarthur-fc-players-arrested-after-police-investigation-yellow-cards-betting-probe-details/news-story/44337aec548b757a9f16dd8c255d7317

Footage of arrests. Pretty heavy. I guess links to anything like organised crime poses risks of weapons etc. Really wonder what's to come of this and you'd assume the police have some pretty damning evidence. 

I was, SB. 

If you got rid of gambling football would probably have a chance against the other codes which are all funded by pokies

I can tell you that I used to referee here in W.A and I was refereeing a Women's state cup game at 7:45 on a Wednesday night in fremantle and it was freezing and awful rain and a guy walks up to me while do my pitch inspection and goes you got any info who is going to win , need to let a few people go , I'm like to myself that's commitment for gambling

I know but the Pakistan example is more relevant to this case.

Think he was alluding to Warne and Waugh.

And, it was the United Kingdom Gambling Commission which first alerted Australian authorities to suspicious betting involving Macarthur FC.

Actually, that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is very similar to the spot-fixing scandal involving three Pakistani cricketers in 2010 where players were paid to bowl no balls at certain points of the match. All three players involved went to prison.

Just mentioning that no result of any game was affected in any way.
Not condoning it, but it is small beer on a global scale. Some where around giving cricket pitch reports to bookies, and that didn't end up any careers. 

Just another salary cap rort, really. 

hilarous that betting is all over the game, rammed down our throats yet this is the worst thing ever

GET RID OF GAMBLING

They said they would when he returns to NSW and if he doesn’t return, they will seek to have him extradited.

Vince Rugari’s article (which I can’t access again as it’s behind paywall), mentioned that a fifth player could be involved as well.