A-League player Clayton Rhys Lewis intends to fight charges related to an alleged yellow card betting scandal, with his lawyer stating he will plead not guilty.
The 27-year-old Macarthur Bulls player appeared in a Sydney court on Thursday, facing accusations of corrupting betting outcomes and participating in a criminal group. He is accused of deliberately receiving a yellow card during a match against Sydney FC in December, allegedly influencing betting markets.
Lewis’ lawyer, Zemarai Khatiz, told the Downing Centre Local Court that his client will be entering a plea of not guilty. The player’s bail was varied slightly with the consent of the police, who are expected to provide a brief of evidence by August.
Two of Lewis’ teammates, former Bulls captain Ulises Davila and Kearyn Baccus, have also faced court over the alleged betting scheme, which police claim was headed by a South American contact and involved hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts.
All three players are due to return to court on August 22. The scandal has shaken the A-League, with two additional players named in court documents but not yet charged.
Clayton Lewis is pictured outside the Sydney court. He intends to plead not guilty to the charges.
Lewis is accused of deliberately receiving a yellow card during an A-League match while allegedly influencing betting markets.
The court heard that Davila, 33, allegedly influenced other players to take part in the scheme. He and the Macarthur Bulls mutually terminated his contract as he faced court in June. Baccus, 32, has also made a court appearance in relation to the scandal.
The scandal has rocked the A-League, with police alleging that the scheme involved significant payouts and the participation of multiple players. Two additional players have been named in court documents but have not yet been charged.
Lewis and his teammates are expected to return to court in August, where they will face the serious charges that have already led to contract terminations and could have further implications for their careers and the integrity of the league.