Six months later, detectives revealed a “senior player” was allegedly taking instructions from a man — believed to be based in South America — to organise players taking yellow cards for money during matches.
Police are yet to name any of the players who have been charged, but investigators said all three are attached to a club based in southwest Sydney.
Police say yellow cards were manipulated during games played on November 24 and December 9. They also allege unsuccessful attempts were made to do the same thing during matches on April 20 and May 4.
Police executed a search warrant at South Coogee in Sydney’s east on Friday, when they arrested a 33-year-old man. A 27-year-old was arrested in the suburb of Parramatta, while a 32-year-old was arrested in Campbelltown.
The oldest of the trio is expected to be charged with two counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event, and two counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event.
The other two players are set to be charged with engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event.
Davila, 33, signed for the Phoenix in 2019, captaining the side and making 50 appearances before moving to Macarthur in 2021. Lewis, 27, has earned 22 caps for the All Whites, most recently starting in a loss to Egypt in March, and first played for the Phoenix in 2020.
Former All Whites and Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund said he was “devastated” to hear about the scandal. Sigmund, who played 181 games for the Phoenix from 2008 to 2016, told Newstalk ZB’s D’Arcy Waldegrave it was something he never encountered as a player.
“It’s one of the biggest no-nos that you could possibly do in any sport,” Sigmund said. “You just know that you stay away from that stuff – don’t go near it, don’t even get tempted to go near it. It makes me upset, it makes me sad. I’m just gutted.
“In terms of trying to make money or manoeuvre the game for a financial gain, it just wasn’t in my DNA. It never came across my bow, and if it had, it wouldn’t be touched for some silly little financial gain. Especially with the damage it can do to your brand and who you are and what you’re about.
“It will be interesting to see what plays out now. It’s people’s careers in terms of these young players. Clayton Lewis has done a great job in terms of getting himself into the A-League and back into the All Whites. What damage this might do, I don’t know.”
The news comes the day before the biggest match in Wellington Phoenix history, set to host Melbourne Victory in a semifinal at a sold-out Sky Stadium on Saturday night.
The Phoenix were approached and did not wish to comment.
-with AAP
