Former Macarthur Bulls duo avoid jail over A-Leagues betting scandal

Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis compete for the ball as former opponents.
Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis compete for the ball as former opponents. MASANORI UDAGAWA / Getty Images via AFP

Former Macarthur Bulls players Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus have been ordered to pay fines of $10,000 but avoided convictions for their part in a betting scandal involving manipulation of yellow cards in A-League matches.

Former New Zealand midfielder Lewis and Baccus faced a Sydney court for sentencing on Wednesday after pleading guilty to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event.

Both players admitted to receiving payments of $10,000 each from club captain Ulises Davila to ensure yellow cards were issued in multiple A-League matches in late-2023.

Davila, a Mexico national, has yet to enter pleas on nine charges against him. He faces court on Thursday.

Lewis and Baccus will serve a two-year conditional release order, a non-custodial sentence in Australia which allows offenders to remain in the community under conditions.

The pair's sentencing comes a month after former Western United midfielder Riku Danzaki was fined $5,000 and convicted of fraud for deliberately earning yellow cards in A-League games so he and a friend could cash in at bookmakers.

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