Police also allege unsuccessful attempts were made to do the same thing during matches on April 20 and May 4.
They tried to commit yellow card offenses, but the refs were super inconsistent and refused to book them. Or there were alternative betting arrangements in place…
I have to say, it sounds unfair to make him buy tickets before assessing his eligibility to travel back to NZ. Couldn't the courts decide on if/when he is allowed to travel? Also, now he won't have another date until mid December...what do the records from overseas betting agencies have to do with his culpability? Sure they would need to establish if he had agreed to sell yellow card with Uli? imagine if he's innocent? It's crazy how long this is taking... Then again, you'd think if he was fully innocent he probably would have been able to prove it by now..
I have to say, it sounds unfair to make him buy tickets before assessing his eligibility to travel back to NZ. Couldn't the courts decide on if/when he is allowed to travel? Also, now he won't have another date until mid December...what do the records from overseas betting agencies have to do with his culpability? Sure they would need to establish if he had agreed to sell yellow card with Uli? imagine if he's innocent? It's crazy how long this is taking... Then again, you'd think if he was fully innocent he probably would have been able to prove it by now..
part of the decision would be around his intent to travel I'd expect.
I have to say, it sounds unfair to make him buy tickets before assessing his eligibility to travel back to NZ. Couldn't the courts decide on if/when he is allowed to travel? Also, now he won't have another date until mid December...what do the records from overseas betting agencies have to do with his culpability? Sure they would need to establish if he had agreed to sell yellow card with Uli? imagine if he's innocent? It's crazy how long this is taking... Then again, you'd think if he was fully innocent he probably would have been able to prove it by now..
But technically, he doesn't have to prove his innocence, but the Court has to prove his guilt.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
"Two former A-League players have admitted to their involvement in a spot fixing scheme during a series of matches last year by earning yellow cards.
Ex-Bulls teammates Ulises Davila, Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus were arrested last year for betting corruption linked to a South American criminal figure.
Former Macarthur FC captain Davila, is facing a string of nine charges relating to a total of six A-League games.
Among those charges are four counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event, three counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event, knowingly/recklessly directing a criminal group and participating in a criminal group/ contribute to criminal activity.
He has not yet entered any pleas.
Two former A-League players, Kearyn Baccus (left) and Clayton Lewis (right) have pleaded guilty to their role in a spot fixing scheme.
Lewis and Baccus were both charged with one count each of engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event and participating in a criminal group.
Lewis and Baccus attended the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, and both pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event."
So he's pleaded guilty. Career possibly over for $10K. Sad really.
As some indicator of what his sentence could be, Ryan Tandy an NRL player was banned from playing professional league in Australia, after being caught doing something a bit similar.
He managed to avoid jail and went on to play in the UK after that. Sadly he died of a drug overdose a few years later.
I'm guessing Lewis has played his last ALM game, but if he avoids jail he might be able to play somewhere else overseas. He's still only 28. Have no idea how FIFA treats this stuff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Tandy On 6 October 2011, Tandy was found to be guilty of manipulating the first scoring point of the game. He received an intensive correction order for six months. It required: community service, supervision and curfew, but he could have been jailed for two years. He appealed the charge in January 2014 but lost the case. Tandy received a lifetime ban from NRL rugby league over the spot fixing.
I struggle to imagine he’d be able to find many clubs overseas willing to take on a player with a very severe criminal charge attached to his name.
I think Football is the least of his worries right now and even if they weren’t. I don’t think any decent level club overseas would try move mountains to have him either.
What an absolute waste of a career though. Would’ve been on good coin at MacArthur and would’ve certainly been in the mix for a spot at the World Cup next year. Things that come around once in a lifetime. coochiee
So he's pleaded guilty. Career possibly over for $10K. Sad really.
As some indicator of what his sentence could be, Ryan Tandy an NRL player was banned from playing professional league in Australia, after being caught doing something a bit similar.
He managed to avoid jail and went on to play in the UK after that. Sadly he died of a drug overdose a few years later.
I'm guessing Lewis has played his last ALM game, but if he avoids jail he might be able to play somewhere else overseas. He's still only 28. Have no idea how FIFA treats this stuff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Tandy On 6 October 2011, Tandy was found to be guilty of manipulating the first scoring point of the game. He received an intensive correction order for six months. It required: community service, supervision and curfew, but he could have been jailed for two years. He appealed the charge in January 2014 but lost the case. Tandy received a lifetime ban from NRL rugby league over the spot fixing.
Some Asian league club might take a punt on him, if he avoids gaol time. Matthew Millar who left MAC under a bit of cloud with this yellow card scandal, just spent half a season in Iran with Champness.
Narelle Sindos (if they are still together) may not fancy Tehran. Probably not too many female sports presenters jobs there, plus the whole being bombed thing.
Minsk and the Belarussian League, where Covid was just a flu?
Wonder if MAC will now formally release Lewis since he's pleaded guilty.
Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors. The pair will face sentencing in September.
Davila has not yet entered pleas to the nine charges he faces. He will return to court next month.
All players were stood down by the league. Davila’s contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his arrest. Baccus was released by the Bulls during the 2024 offseason and Lewis remains suspended.
Looking at the owners and sponsors of various clubs points out the hypocrisy. Million dollar sponsorships from companies with no physical office and so on. Surely he’s done as a footballer though?
Looking at the owners and sponsors of various clubs points out the hypocrisy. Million dollar sponsorships from companies with no physical office and so on. Surely he’s done as a footballer though?
Guess that depends on what kinda ban he gets from football. If its not a life ban, maybe he can get it back dated from when he was stood down & play NZ National League again. Surely will be the end of his pro career tho.
A really sad end for a good player. I suspect changing his plea to guilty was a plea bargain. Seems like he wasnt the ringleader so he might get a lesser penalty for testifying against whoever organised the crime. He would have been a very good addition to the current Nix squad but hes going to get a huge suspension from the A League
A really sad end for a good player. I suspect changing his plea to guilty was a plea bargain. Seems like he wasnt the ringleader so he might get a lesser penalty for testifying against whoever organised the crime. He would have been a very good addition to the current Nix squad but hes going to get a huge suspension from the A League
Regardless of how long his ban is, there's no way we should ever touch him again. I'd be seriously disappointed with the club if even a rumour about it popped up.
What a scumbag. I have no respect for him or Davilla. Hope he never gets to play again. Left his guilty plea to the last moment, I suspect because the evidence was stacked against him, and he plea bargained.
When you look back, that missed penalty at Eden Park by Davilla seems very suspicious.
A really sad end for a good player. I suspect changing his plea to guilty was a plea bargain. Seems like he wasnt the ringleader so he might get a lesser penalty for testifying against whoever organised the crime. He would have been a very good addition to the current Nix squad but hes going to get a huge suspension from the A League
Regardless of how long his ban is, there's no way we should ever touch him again. I'd be seriously disappointed with the club if even a rumour about it popped up.
I'd imagine both players will get a decent ban from the A-League, when it comes to other leagues unless it's a typical red/too many yellows etc. FIFA tend to make lengthy bans global and no one bats an eyelid in protest.
to put it context Ivan Toney got eight months for betting online on his team to lose (not match fixing) after an investigation from all football activity, I would not be surprised if its a life ban or at the least five years plus.
Players who cheat results deserve 100% to get punished. However there is no doubt the seedy gambling money has heavily infiltrated pro football. I dont know what its like in NZ but here in Europe gambling in football is everywhere. You go to matches and most of the advertising hordings are gambling logos. Ditto the players shirts. Watching on TV probably 80% of pre and post game ads are gambling. Lots of these firms are shadowy Asian or Middle East firms who use multiple shell companies to hide and move around money. The inquires i have seen say match fixing is rife in lower salary leagues. Im sure the A league Davila case is not isolated.
Players who cheat results deserve 100% to get punished. However there is no doubt the seedy gambling money has heavily infiltrated pro football. I dont know what its like in NZ but here in Europe gambling in football is everywhere. You go to matches and most of the advertising hordings are gambling logos. Ditto the players shirts. Watching on TV probably 80% of pre and post game ads are gambling. Lots of these firms are shadowy Asian or Middle East firms who use multiple shell companies to hide and move around money. The inquires i have seen say match fixing is rife in lower salary leagues. Im sure the A league Davila case is not isolated.
Imagine you steal 10k from work. Then you are never allowed to work again... This isn't really a football discussion and he's made a dumb mistake. I just feel sorry for the guy he will never play the game he loves again at a decent level..
Players who cheat results deserve 100% to get punished. However there is no doubt the seedy gambling money has heavily infiltrated pro football. I dont know what its like in NZ but here in Europe gambling in football is everywhere. You go to matches and most of the advertising hordings are gambling logos. Ditto the players shirts. Watching on TV probably 80% of pre and post game ads are gambling. Lots of these firms are shadowy Asian or Middle East firms who use multiple shell companies to hide and move around money. The inquires i have seen say match fixing is rife in lower salary leagues. Im sure the A league Davila case is not isolated.
Imagine you steal 10k from work. Then you are never allowed to work again... This isn't really a football discussion and he's made a dumb mistake. I just feel sorry for the guy he will never play the game he loves again at a decent level..
To be fair, if you stole from your employer and were convicted you'd be very hard pressed to find anyone who'd employ you again with that on your record. I dont think this can be called a mistake either, none of this was accidental, nor was he really coerced. He, Baccus and Davilla all agreed to cheat for monetary gain. In brings their employer (club), the league and the game globally into disrepute! Ban him for life, and assuming he doesnt see a prison cell keep him away from any football related event forever!
It depends on your profession you might lose your right to practice that profession. For instance if a lawyer accepted money to throw a clients case then they would not be able to practice law again.
Would be great huh! Except that money funds a large part of professional sport as we know it. It could be done, much like the removal of tabacco and alcohol sponsorship but it will be tough.
But, also, why should some people's fun be ruined because a small minority cant help but be crooks?
Think people have forgotten we had a player who had once been involved in a betting scandal Marco Rossi. So that shows it is possible to play again. Not that he was good for us sadly showed some promise but never delivered on it.
Would be great huh! Except that money funds a large part of professional sport as we know it. It could be done, much like the removal of tabacco and alcohol sponsorship but it will be tough.
But, also, why should some people's fun be ruined because a small minority cant help but be crooks?
I just dont see who would step up to replace the money Sports Betting Companies put in should they be banned. Many sports still have alcohol as sponsors
According to the facts presented in court, Lewis was put in a holding cell after his arrest, and he admitted to the other occupant that he deliberately solicited a yellow card “to earn a little bit of coin”.
The conversation was recorded with a surveillance device, the court was told.
Lewis was recruited for the scheme because he was a known gambler and was seen as “influenceable”.
The court was told there was no evidence Lewis or Baccus had any involvement in placing the bets but they were paid by Davila after match.
Lewis was paid in three instalments while Baccus told Davila to say the $10,000 was payment for a car.
