A-League spot fixing scandal: Macarthur FC star charged over four more games

The former captain of an A-League club has been hit with fresh charges over his alleged role in a betting scandal, with police alleging he was involved in corrupting the betting outcome of four more games.

Former Macarthur FC captain Ulises Davila has been hit with fresh charges, with police alleging he was involved in spot-fixing an additional four A-League matches last year.

Mr Davila, 33, and ex-Bulls teammates Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus were arrested last year for alleged betting corruption linked to a South American criminal figure.

Police have alleged the Mexican midfielder was taking instructions from a Colombian associate - named in court documents as “J Col” - to organise for yellow cards to occur during games in exchange for money.

He did not appear in person in court on Thursday after he was hit with additional charges comprising three counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event, one count each of engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event and knowingly/recklessly directing a criminal group.

He has now been charged in relation to a total of six A-League games.

Following his arrest, Mr Davila was alleged to have organised to manipulate yellow cards against Melbourne Victory on November 24 and against Sydney FC on December 9 in 2023.

According to court documents seen by NewsWire, Davila has now additionally been charged with corrupting the betting outcome of matches against Adelaide United on January 8, Sydney FC on April 20 and May 4 and Wellington Phoenix on April 27 last year.

Ulises Davila (right) has been hit with new charges. Picture: NewsWire/Monique Harmer

Following his arrest in May last year, Mr Davila was charged with participating in a criminal group, facilitating conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event and two counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event.

Mr Davila and the club agreed to a “mutual termination” of his contract following his arrest.

According to court documents, Mr Davila is alleged to have participated in a criminal group with others including Mr Baccus, Mr Lewis and “an associate in Colombia”.

He is alleged to have used his role as captain of Macarthur FC to “encourage other Macarthur FC players to engage in conduct to obtain disciplinary cards” that “corrupted the betting outcome”, according to the court documents.

Clayton Lewis. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short

Kearyn Baccus. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

It is alleged Mr Lewis and Mr Baccus were paid up to $10,000 by Mr Davila, who was directed by a South American contact.

Mr Lewis and Mr Baccus have both been charged with one count each of engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event and participating in a criminal group.

Neither Mr Davila, Mr Lewis nor Mr Baccus were required to appear in court on Thursday, with their matters to return to court on April 10.

All three have not yet entered pleas.

Originally published as A-League spot fixing scandal: Macarthur FC star charged over four more games