Club captain charged in Australian rules football match-fixing case, released from A-League contract

SYDNEY – Australian A-League football club Macarthur has terminated the contract of captain Ulises Davila on the same day the Mexican midfielder appeared in court over allegations he helped lead a match-fixing scheme.

Davila signed a two-year contract extension with the club earlier this year. The 33-year-old Davila was arrested in May over his alleged involvement in a scheme to deliberately give Macarthur players yellow cards.

The team issued a two-line statement Monday saying Davila’s contract was terminated by “mutual consent.”

Davila made his first court appearance on Monday. Police allege he was the link between Macarthur players and a South American group that orchestrated the match-fixing scheme.

Davila has not entered a plea. Two other Macarthur players have been charged by police in connection with the claims. All three players have been released on bail.

New Zealand international Clayton Lewis, who is still contracted to the south-west Sydney club, is due to appear in court on Thursday. Midfielder Kearyn Baccus, who was previously released from the club, appeared in court in May.

Police say the bet resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out to gamblers. Documents presented at the local court at Sydney’s Downing Center allege that Davila, in his role as captain, influenced other Macarthur players to take part in the scheme.

Investigators say yellow cards, which are universally issued as warnings by referees of foul play, were manipulated during A-League matches played on November 24 and December 9. Macarthur drew 1-1 against Melbourne Victory in the first of these. matches before beating Sydney FC 2–0 in the second.

All three indicted players received yellow cards in the December 9 match. Police also claim that there were failed attempts to do the same during matches on April 20 and May 4 this year.

Football Australia has imposed interim suspensions on the three players under the code of conduct.