A-League players arrested over alleged betting corruption

Strike Force Beaconview was established in December 2023 to investigate alleged yellow card manipulation by players attached to one club.

Investigations revealed a senior player was allegedly taking instructions from a man – believed to be offshore in South America – to organise for yellow cards to occur during certain games in exchange for profit.

The number of yellow cards were allegedly manipulated during two games played in November and December of 2023, NSW Police said.

Failed attempts were then allegedly made to control the number of yellow cards during two games in April and May this year.

At about 6am today detectives executed a search warrant in South Coogee, where they arrested a 33-year-old man.

He is expected to be charged with two counts of engage in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event, and two counts of facilitate in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event.

At the same time, detectives executed three other search warrants in Parramatta, West Hoxton, and Emu Plains.

At the Parramatta address, detectives arrested a 27-year-old man. He is expected to be charged with engage in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event.

In West Hoxton, detectives arrested a 32-year-old man. He is expected to be charged with engage in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event.

Football Australia said it was made aware of the arrests and was fully cooperating with the investigation.

“Football Australia will provide no further comments at this stage as the investigation is ongoing,” the body said in a statement.

The investigation continues.