Footballer restricted from leaving Australia after betting scandal requests flight home

An Australian soccer league midfielder, suspended for allegedly manipulating yellow cards, will apply to the court for permission to return to his home in New Zealand. The player is former Macarthur Bulls player Clayton Lewis, 27. He was arrested and charged along with former captain Ulises Davila, 33, and midfielder Kearyn Baccus, 33, for their alleged involvement in a betting corruption scheme.

Davila, who reportedly left the club shortly after his arrest in May, is alleged to have acted as an intermediary between players from the southwest Sydney team and a Colombian criminal syndicate. The three men appeared for a brief hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday. Lewis’s lawyer, Zemarai Khatiz, said the midfielder was seeking a variation to his bail conditions.

Lewis, who is currently restricted from leaving Australia, hopes to be able to return to New Zealand. However, Magistrate Christine Haskett refused to hear the application until Lewis had purchased a ticket and confirmed travel dates. Lewis appeared in person, while Davila and Baccus were excused from attending.

All three cases were adjourned until December 12, as the magistrate was informed that police were still awaiting evidence collected from overseas. In August, the court heard that prosecutors were seeking betting machine records and bookmaker statements from BetPlay in Colombia, Bet365 in New Jersey, and Bet365 in Bulgaria. Police have stated that the betting scheme resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in winnings being paid out and was led by a Colombian contact.

It is alleged that Davila paid Baccus and Lewis up to $10,000 to deliberately receive yellow cards through the scheme. Investigators claim that yellow cards, typically a caution from the referee for a foul, were manipulated in games played on November 24 and December 9. Macarthur drew 1-1 with Melbourne Victory on November 24, before defeating Sydney FC 2-0 on December 9. All three accused players were shown yellow cards in the December 9 game against Sydney.

Police also allege that similar manipulations were attempted, but unsuccessful, in games on April 20 and May 4. Baccus was released by the Bulls during the 2024 off-season, while all three players have been banned from playing in the Australian soccer league men’s competition following their arrests.