Riku Danzaki, Yuta Hirayama: Two Melbourne soccer players accused of betting fraud

An offer put forward by a soccer player charged over his alleged involvement in an A-League betting fraud scheme has been rejected by prosecutors, a court has been told.

A footballer allegedly placed a $250 bet on being given a yellow card in an A-League game - then committed a “dangerous tackle” earning a booking.

Riku Danzaki, 25, dived in for a contested ball as Western United took on Sydney FC in April and had allegedly bet at $6.50 odds that he would be cautioned.

The Japanese-born player, who played 49 games with Western United until his contract finished at the end of the last season, has been charged with 10 offences including four counts of engaging in conduct that would corrupt a betting outcome, four counts of facilitating corrupt conduct and using corrupt conduct information for betting.

Riku Danzaki totalled six goals and 10 assists across 49 league games. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

According to charge sheets released by Melbourne Magistrates Court, police allege the midfielder also deliberately received a yellow card on May 9 and attempted to receive a yellow card during a match on May 3 but was not successful.

It’s further alleged Mr Danzaki used “corrupt conduct information” on May 22 by attempting to place a $1000 bet at $4.25 odds under an plan to receive a yellow card in a match against Melbourne City.

Mr Danzaki appeared in court on Monday morning with the assistance of a Japanese interpreter as lawyer Lewis Winter asked the court for a three week adjournment. He did not enter a plea and his case was adjourned by Magistrate Tara Hartnett until August 13.

Mr Danzaki attended court with his lawyer Lewis Winter (right). Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

A second soccer player accused of involvement in the alleged betting corruption, Yuta Hirayama, 27, also faced court on Monday, charged with 16 offences including 11 counts of using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes and four counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome.

Mr Hirayama is expected to return to court in August. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

According to the charge sheets for Mr Hirayama, who played last season with the Bayside Argonauts after several years playing for clubs in Queensland, police allege he placed 11 bets on three Western United matches with insider information that Mr Danzaki would receive a yellow card.

These allegedly were two bets on the April 27 match against Sydney FC, six bets on a May 4 match with Auckland FC and three bets for a May 9 match up with Adelaide FC.

In total it’s alleged he bet $3,566.67 to win a profit of $17,189.04.

Bayside Argonauts striker Yuta Hirayama allegedly made more than $17,000 from the bets. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Lawyers acting for Mr Hirayama told the court the matter has been resolved with a plea however the case was adjourned after Ms Hartnett said she had a busy case load and could not fit in a plea hearing.

“I’m adjourning these matters to the 13th of August for a plea,” she said.

The court was told the police summary of the alleged offending spanned two pages and the case was adjourned for a two-hour hearing.

Both Mr Hirayama and Mr Danzaki will return to court on that date.

Originally published as Riku Danzaki, Yuta Hirayama: Two Melbourne soccer players accused of betting fraud