Three professional Australian football players were arrested on Friday on charges related to match-fixing. According to police, a senior footballer attempted to manipulate several games in late 2023 and 2024 by arranging for players to receive yellow cards. The police did not disclose the names of the players or the club involved.

The senior player allegedly received instructions from an individual believed to be located offshore in South America. This person instructed the player on how to manipulate the games to affect certain betting outcomes. Betting markets related to the number of yellow cards issued during matches were reportedly targeted.

Working with the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, detectives arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of being involved in the match-fixing scheme. Additionally, a 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old man were also arrested on the same charges.

Football Australia, the governing body of football in the country, confirmed that the three players belong to an unnamed Sydney club competing in the professional A-League. The arrests highlight the serious consequences of match-fixing and the efforts to combat corruption in sports.