Professional clown Segaran ‘Gerry’ Subramaniam jailed for role in Southern Stars match-fixing, as club loses points, cops $10,000 fine

A PROFESSIONAL clown turned ringmaster in an international match-fixing scam has been jailed as the soccer club at the centre of the scandal escaped a ban.

Southern Stars Soccer Club’s Kingston Heath ground where they play their home games.

A PROFESSIONAL clown turned clumsy ringleader of an international match-fixing scam has been jailed for one year, as the suburban soccer club at the centre of the scandal escaped a ban.

Abnormal betting behaviour on Southern Stars games prompted authorities to investigate last year.

Football Federation Victoria today announced a $10,000 fine for the club and the loss of eight premiership points as sanctions for the controversy that has led to criminal charges and global bans from the game for those involved.

Southern Stars Football Club will be allowed to continue playing in State League 1, one level below the National Premier League, but has been hit with a raft of penalties for “materially injuring the reputation and goodwill of football’’.

The move comes as Segaran “Gerry’’ Subramaniam was sentenced in the Victorian County Court for his role in the illegal enterprise.

Judge Michael Bourke said Subramaniam, 46, passed on instructions from overseas syndicate bosses in a “somewhat obvious and hazardous way”.

The court previously heard the cheating British soccer players involved feared they would be caught because Subramaniam would shout instructions about the number of goals to be conceded during six matches between July and September 2013.

Judge Bourke said that although Subramaniam was a junior player in the overall scheme, his role was necessary and important.

The Malaysian national was sent to Australia with around $64,000 to take care of payment of the talented semi-professional players, and to arrange hotels and cars for them.

Subramaniam was set to return to Malaysia in September and receive around $6000 for his work.

The court previously heard the scheme was unsophisticated and chaotic, with players fearing they would be caught due to Subramaniam’s manner of delivering instructions.

Two players convicted of fixing matches at the Southern Stars were given fines of $1200 and $2000, but the judge said a custodial sentence was the only appropriate penalty for Subramaniam.

Judge Bourke said Subramaniam, who pleaded guilty to one charge of conduct corrupting a betting outcome, had compromised the local soccer club and entire league.

He said the former semi-professional soccer player, who developed a successful act as a clown, betrayed the honest players, supporters and “decent, committed people who value the tradition and reputation of the club”.

“Sports and sporting clubs play a particularly positive role in our society,” the judge said.

Judge Bourke said a strong message condemning corruption of sporting events for reward needed to be sent to the community.

He said Subramaniam’s lack of prior offences, guilty plea, isolation and lack of support, and limited role in the scheme were relevant factors.

Subramaniam was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended for a three-year period.

He has already served 222 days.

The offence carries a maximum prison term of up to 10 years.

FFV chief Mitchell Murphy said the sanctions imposed on the soccer club were ``very substantial’’ for a ``community club’’.

“Southern Stars has suffered a high price in terms of reputational loss given the serious failures of governance that led to Australia’s first football match fixing charges,’’ he said.

“However it was vital that FFV do more than simply punish the club.’’

The Dingley-based club was stripped of all premiership points for the 2013 in the wake of the $2 million match-fixing scandal that saw its senior coach and nine players arrested in a series of police raids last year.

Key staff at the club will be forced to take mandatory club management and governance courses, report monthly to FFV and have all current and proposed committee members approved by the governing body.

“The investigation identified a serious lack of governance and failure to conduct due diligence by the committee at Southern Stars,’’ Mr Murphy said.

“Although no criminal charges have been laid against any of the committee members at Southern Stars, its poor administration provided an environment and the opportunity for the match fixing to take place.’’

FIFA has issued life soccer bans for two players convicted under Victoria’s new match fixing laws.

It has also suspended the remaining players pending the outcome of their criminal proceedings.

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