<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two former A-League players have admitted engaging in a betting corruption scandal after they were paid to earn yellow cards during games.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ex-Macarthur Bulls team captain Ulises Davila, and midfielders Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis, have been charged with manipulating yellow cards during games in 2023 and 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Davila, 33, allegedly acted as the conduit between the south-west Sydney team's players and an unnamed criminal group in Colombia, organising for the cards to occur during particular games.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bega-australia-winds-down-peanut-company-of-australia/2bd22bce-1f9f-4b12-aaed-abf4a4031662" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Bega shuts down peanut factories, leaving 150 workers and 90 growers in the lurch</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Baccus, 33, and Lewis, 27, were allegedly paid up to $10,000 by the former captain to deliberately receive the referee-issued cautions for foul play.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The midfielders pleaded guilty today to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A second charge of participating in a criminal group was withdrawn.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/former-aleague-soccer-stars-admit-to-roles-in-betting-corruption-scandal/b7155ee3-6c69-4e65-841f-1f1ba3291a27" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lewis had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges, but reversed his plea to one of the charges after negotiating with prosecutors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both former A-League players maintained blank faces as their pleas were entered.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair will face sentencing in September.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sussan-ley-says-she-once-pulled-a-gun-on-a-man-while-camping/6f6a6bc3-2815-4a73-b6cb-786f31761495" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Sussan Ley says she once pulled a gun on a man while camping</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Davila, the alleged local ringleader of the criminal group behind the betting corruption, has not yet entered pleas to the nine charges he faces.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He will return to court in August.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gaming-machine records and bookmaker statements from BetPlay Colombia, Bet365 New Jersey and Bet365 Bulgaria comprise part of a lengthy brief of evidence being prepared by prosecutors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police say the betting scheme led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Davila's contract with Macarthur FC was terminated shortly after his initial arrest, which the team described in a statement as mutual.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Baccus was released by the Bulls during a 2024 off-season clean-out and Lewis remains suspended.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>There are many different ways to get help and information about gambling. You can visit the National Gambling Helpline or call on 1800 858 858.</span></strong></div></div>