Former A-League Star Ulises Dávila Pleads Guilty to Match-Fixing

Ulises Dávila, 34, a former Mexico youth international and captain of Macarthur FC who was named A-League Men Player of the Year in 2021, has pleaded guilty in an Australian court to his involvement in a profitable match-fixing scheme.

Dávila Pleads Guilty to Fixing Yellow Cards

Dávila was alleged to be the mastermind behind a betting scheme in which he and two teammates from Macarthur FC intentionally received yellow cards to influence betting outcomes. The charges stemmed from six matches played in Australia’s top-tier soccer league during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

The former Macarthur FC captain pleaded guilty to facilitating and engaging in conduct intended to corrupt the outcome of a betting event. Prosecutors at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court dropped eight other charges against him, including allegations that he led and took part in a criminal group.

What Led to This?

During a match against Sydney FC on December 9, 2023, Macarthur players Ulises Dávila, Clayton Lewis, and Kearyn Baccus each received yellow cards. Dávila was booked for time-wasting by kicking the ball away, Lewis for pushing an opponent in the chest, and Baccus for a reckless tackle.

According to statements agreed upon by Lewis and Baccus, bets had been placed on Macarthur receiving at least four yellow cards during the match. Winnings from these bets, placed through a gambling site, totaled more than AUD 200,000 (around $132,000). Dávila allegedly paid Lewis and Baccus AUD 10,000 ($6,600) each for their involvement in the scheme.

In September, Lewis and Baccus were given good-behavior bonds and avoided conviction, with the magistrate describing them as being “right at the bottom of the scheme.” They said they became involved at Dávila’s urging, describing him as not only the team captain but the mastermind behind the scheme. All three players were suspended and eventually had their contracts with Macarthur FC terminated.

Macarthur FC had previously released a strongly worded statement highlighting what it described as serious deficiencies in the integrity processes within Australian football. The club asserted that the existing systems were insufficient to protect teams from risk and lacked the necessary responsiveness to handle issues of such scale. It called for an urgent and comprehensive review and reform of integrity protocols to ensure the long-term protection of the sport.