Olympian and A-League star Clayton Lewis denies spot-fixing betting scandal

An Olympian has pleaded not guilty to claims he was involved in a criminal syndicate that manipulated yellow cards for financial benefit.

An Olympian footballer has pleaded not guilty to allegations of manipulating yellow cards for financial gain as he appeared in court for the first time.

Clayton Lewis was arrested in May, alongside his Macarthur FC teammates Ulises Davila and Kearyn Baccus, over allegations they planned to manipulate yellow cards during matches. Neither have entered pleas to their charges.

Police allege he deliberately obtained a yellow card in the A-League match between Sydney FC and Macarthur FC on December 9, 2023 in order to affect the betting market.

He did so with the intention of obtaining a financial advantage, according to police allegations.

Clayton Lewis has been accused of spot-fixing by earning yellow cards. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Police allege the A-League star remained embroiled in the spot-fixing criminal syndicate from December last year until he was arrested in May.

Mr Lewis was charged with engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event, and participating in a criminal group.

He wore a charcoal suit and a white shirt with his hair pulled back in a topknot as he fronted court on Thursday for the first time.

His lawyer Zemarai Khatiz told the court his client pleaded not guilty to both charges.

“Mr Lewis will defend this charge,” he said.

The 27-year-old did not comment as he strode out of Sydney Downing Centre Courthouse.

Mr Lewis allegedly deliberately obtained a yellow card in order to affect the betting market. Picture: Greg Bowker/Getty Images for NZOC

He will return to court next month alongside his alleged co-conspirators, whom he is barred from contacting as a condition of his bail.

The A-League star signed with Macarthur FC in May last year after a decorated career in his home country of New Zealand.

He represented his country at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and has been capped 27 times by the All Whites since making his debut as an 18-year-old in an international match against South Korea. 

The midfielder was charged alongside two of his teammates, including Macarthur FC captain Ulises Davila. 

According to court documents, police allege Mr Davila used his role as captain to “encourage other Macarthur FC players to engage in conduct to obtain disciplinary cards” that “corrupted the betting outcome”.

Police allege the captain brought his two Bulls teammates into the scheme by paying them $10,000 to earn yellow cards.

He formerly represented New Zealand in the 2021 Olympics. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

He joined the Macarthur FC Bulls last year. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

He 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 has not entered pleas to the charges. 

His Bulls teammate Kearyn Baccus has similarly not entered pleas to the charge of engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event.

Both men have departed from the Macarthur side since they were charged over the spot-fixing allegations.