New Zealand: Footballer avoids conviction in A-League betting scandal
Clayton Lewis receives community order for spot-fixing but faces lifetime football ban.
Key points:
– Clayton Lewis was sentenced without conviction in a Sydney court
– Admitted to accepting AU$10,000 (US$6,596) to deliberately receive a yellow card
– Faces a potential lifetime ban from Football Australia
Former New Zealand international Clayton Lewis has avoided a formal conviction after admitting to involvement in a spot-fixing scheme during his time at A-League club Macarthur FC.
As reported by The New Zealand Herald, the 28-year-old midfielder pleaded guilty in July to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event. On Wednesday, a Sydney magistrate sentenced Lewis to a two-year community release order, but ruled that no conviction would be recorded on his criminal record.
The same sentence was handed down to his co-accused, former team-mate Kearyn Baccus. Both players were paid AU$10,000 to deliberately receive yellow cards during a match against Sydney FC in December 2023.
According to police, the manipulation was orchestrated by then-Macarthur captain Ulises Davila, who allegedly acted as a liaison for a South American crime syndicate seeking to profit from illegal betting activity. Davila is facing nine separate charges and has not yet entered a plea. He is due back in court on Thursday.
Good to know: Football Australia has issued Lewis a “show cause” notice, potentially leading to a lifetime ban from the sport
During the hearing, Lewis’ lawyer told the court her client was battling gambling addiction at the time of the incident and was exploited by Davila, who held a position of power within the team.
She argued that Lewis’ moral culpability was limited and that he had been “targeted” due to his vulnerability.
The court was told that Lewis is now receiving treatment for gambling addiction and that the consequences of the scandal have already derailed his football career.
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