A-League players hit with multi-year bans for match-fixing

Four players in Australia’s A-League have been handed multi-year bans for match-fixing schemes.

Two Macarthur FC players, Kearyn Baccus and former New Zealand international Clayton Lewis, were paid £4,940 each to receive bookings during a December 2023 game against Sydney FC. Their punishment began with a two-year conditional release order issued in September, and Football Australia has now extended the sanction to a five-year ban, effective from May 2024.

As part of the deal, they agreed to complete 200 hours of unpaid football-related community service, which could reduce the ban by up to 12 months.

Banishment for the other two players

Separately, Japanese players Riku Danzaki and Yuta Hirayama have been banned for seven years from June 2025. Danzaki admitted guilt in August for deliberately earning yellow cards in several A-League matches in April and May. He is said to have received £7,900 from bets placed by his friend Hirayama, who is an amateur footballer.

All four have chosen not to appeal the decisions and accepted the sanctions.

Expert commentary

A sports integrity analyst welcomed the tough penalties, saying they reinforce the seriousness of match-fixing and will help safeguard the competition's integrity.

They added that consistent, high-profile sanctions are essential to deter future offences.

Summary

In a landmark ruling, four players were sanctioned for attempting to manipulate results in the A-League. The actions underline the league's commitment to integrity and fair play, with penalties designed to deter others from similar conduct. The case involved monetary incentives for yellow cards and public bets on results, prompting broader discussions about safeguarding football across leagues.

Key insight: Strong penalties for match-fixing protect the sport's integrity and send a clear warning to players that corrupt actions will not be tolerated. Source: BBC Sport

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