A-League player convicted of fraud in yellow card betting scam

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MELBOURNE - Former Western United midfielder Riku Danzaki was fined A$5,000 ($3,209.50) by a Melbourne court on Friday after being convicted of fraud by deliberately earning yellow cards in A-League games so he and his friend could cash in at the bookmakers.

Danzaki and his Japanese compatriot Yuta Hirayama, an amateur player who was also convicted and fined, pleaded guilty to seven corruption charges at Melbourne Magistrates Court, Australian Associated Press reported.

Hirayama placed bets that Danzaki would receive yellow cards in four A-League games this year, the court heard, with the midfielder earning a caution in three of them.

The pair, who split around A$16,000 from the bets, had asked the court to spare them a conviction but magistrate Nick Goodenough said he wanted their punishment to be a deterrent to others.

Supporters, teammates and coaching staff are entitled to know that all members of the team are working towards one objective, Goodenough told the court.

Teams win, teams lose, teams draw, but on any given day either team has a chance. What you have both done is a betrayal of that ideal and that trust.

Attacking midfielder Danzaki met Hirayama when he was on loan to A-League club Brisbane Roar from Japanese club Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.

After a brief spell at Scottish club Motherwell in 2023, he moved back to Australia with Western United.

Western United, who are based in Melbournes western suburbs, were stripped of their licence to compete in the A-League earlier this month due to financial problems. The club appealed the decision on Wednesday. REUTERS