Two soccer players have faced court accused of winning more than $18,000 in corrupt bets involving yellow cards.
Former A-League player Riku Danzaki, 25, of Kingsville appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday accused of betting fraud.
The midfielder played 49 games with Western United and departed the club when his contract concluded at the end of last season.
Danzaki is facing ten charges accused of engaging in corrupt conduct involving yellow cards he received at four matches in April and May.
Court documents allege he placed a $250 bet with Bet365, at odds of $6.50 and won a profit of $1375, involving an April 27 game against Sydney Football Club.
It is alleged he used information to place the bet knowing he “would deliberately receive a yellow card, and knowing that, or being reckless as to whether, the information was about conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome”.
Danzaki is accused of attempting to win another $3250 on May 22 after an alleged attempt to place a $1000 Tabcorp bet, by using alleged corrupt conduct information.
Police allege that while playing against Melbourne City he deliberately received a yellow card knowing that the conduct could corrupt the betting outcome.
He is further charged with entering into an “agreement or arrangement” over the alleged corrupt conduct and accused of intending to obtain financial advantage.
Danzaki’s lawyer told the court on Monday he was asking police prosecutors to consider his client for a diversion, which would allow him to avoid a criminal conviction.
The prosecution must accept Danzaki’s proposal for a diversion before it can be put to a magistrate.
The matter was adjourned until mid-August to give prosecutors time to consider the diversion.
Another suburban soccer player, Yuta Hirayama, also faced court on Monday after being charged with 18 offences relating to betting fraud involving Danzaki’s yellow cards.
The Bayside Argonauts striker is accused of pocketing more than $17,000 in profit for betting on matches where Danzaki was handed yellow cards between April and May.
The bets allegedly ranged from $66 to $500.
Court documents allege Hirayama, 27, possessed information in connection to several matches that Danzaki would receive a yellow card.
He is further charged with an attempt to place a $1000 bet when he could have won $3250 in the game between Western United and Melbourne City on May 24.
Hirayama’s matter was adjourned alongside Danzaki’s to Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 13.
Both men have yet to enter formal pleas and remain on bail.
National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
