Two former Macarthur Bulls players have escaped criminal convictions after deliberately receiving yellow cards in exchange for $10,000 as part of a betting scheme. Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were sentenced to two-year conditional release orders in Sydney's Central Local Court on Wednesday.
The pair admitted to intentionally getting yellow cards during a match against Sydney FC on 9 December 2023. Bets placed on Macarthur receiving at least four yellow cards in that game, allegedly orchestrated by former captain Ulises Dávila, generated winning payouts of more than $167,000 through the gambling site Betplay.
Magistrate Michael Blair noted that Baccus and Lewis were “right at the bottom of the scheme” and had no knowledge of the wagers placed on their actions. The court heard that Dávila recruited Lewis due to his gambling addiction, promising “a little bit of extra coin”.
Both players have since been suspended by Macarthur FC and released from their contracts. Baccus now works as a truck driver. They must repay the $10,000 each as a fine. Dávila, who faces nine charges, has not yet entered pleas.
