Former Macarthur FC players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis have pleaded guilty to charges arising from the A-League yellow card betting scandal.
The pair appeared in court and pleaded guilty to conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event.
It’s alleged the pair were encouraged by then club captain Davila to deliberately receive yellow cards and each received $10,000 afterwards.
Baccus and Lewis will return to the court for sentencing in September.
Davila, who faces nine charges, has yet to enter a plea and will return to court next month.
Macarthur Bulls FC meanwhile are calling for reform of integrity protocols in the A-League.
The call was included in a public statement from the club following the guilty pleas of Baccus and Lewis last week.
“The club acknowledges the guilty pleas entered by former players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis in relation to criminal charges,’’ it said.
“The club reiterates that it had no role in any wrongdoing and has maintained its commitment to due process and confidentiality throughout the duration of the legal proceedings. As such, the club has been unable to comment publicly until now.
“At the time the allegations surfaced, Macarthur Bulls FC acted decisively to terminate the contracts of Clayton Lewis and Ulises Davila in accordance with the A-League Code of Conduct.
“Kearyn Baccus’s contract ended in June 2024.
“Today’s developments confirm the club’s actions were both appropriate and justified.
“The club incurred substantial legal expenses in defending its rightful decision to dismiss Clayton Lewis and also suffered material losses in sponsorship revenue due to the uncertainty and inability to publicly respond.
“Macarthur Bulls FC has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal activity within its playing group, coaching staff, or wider workforce. We expect all players and personnel to uphold the values of honesty, accountability, and professionalism.
“This case has also exposed serious deficiencies in the current integrity processes and regulations governing professional football in Australia,’’ the club said.
“The systems in place are inadequate to protect clubs from risk and lack the responsiveness required to manage issues of this magnitude.
“A comprehensive review and reform of integrity protocols is urgently required to safeguard the future of the game.’’
Yeah justice must be served