Former Chelsea star among 3 players arrested for alleged betting scam in Australian A-League: Reports
Former Chelsea player Ulises Davila has been arrested alongside two other teammates Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis for an alleged betting scam. All three players play for A-League club Macarthur FC, which 33-year-old Davila joined in 2021.
The former Chelsea midfielder notably failed to make a single appearance at Stamford Bridge from 2011 to 2015. He spent the vast majority of his career in England on loan to clubs outside the country, including Vitesse, Cordoba, and Tenerife. Eventually, after spending five years at three clubs, he made the switch to Macarthur FC, where he has played 72 games, his highest at any club.
The betting scandal that Ulises Davila has been arrested for saw the 33-year-old midfielder pay his teammates 32-year-old Baccus and 27-year-old Lewis approximately $6,600. According to an AP report, the sum of money was banking on the two players receiving yellow cards on purpose. There are reportedly ties to a gambling ring in South America.
The report also revealed that the match-fixing scandal saw quite a sum of money won. While the exact figure is unknown, it is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. This saw all three players arrested, with Davila set to start a potential court case on June 24.
Notably, all three players received yellow cards when Macarthur faced Sydney in a 1-1 draw on December 9, 2023. It is also believed that there were other attempts to match-fix, including during their 1-1 draw against Melbourne Victory in November last year.
Chelsea look to secure European football on final day
Chelsea head into the final match of the Premier League knowing that a win will guarantee their return to European football next season. The Blues have had a mixed season, but have found form in the league's final days to sit in the top six.
The West London side missed out on continental football this season and Argentine head coach Mauricio Pochettino was brought in to remedy the situation. Despite early hiccups, the former Spurs boss looks to have delivered on his mandate.
Chelsea will look to secure all three points when they host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to ensure they play continental next season. The road to the top of the English Premier League and the top of continental football seems long and hard for Chelsea. However, it starts with the west Londoners confirming their place in the Europa League on Sunday.