Western United player among pair charged over alleged A-League football betting scandal
Two people including a player from Western United have been charged as part of a probe into alleged gambling cheating on A-League football matches.
9News understands Riku Danzaki is the player who has been charged with 10 offences related to betting corruption in four A-League matches in April and May this year.
Police he was deliberately receiving a red or yellow card during matches to manipulate the outcome of online betting.
READ MORE: 'So loved up': Star's message to fans after cancer diagnosis
Riku Danzaki of Western United controls the ball during the A-League men's semi-final between Melbourne City and Western United at AAMI Park, on May 24, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Detectives from Victoria's Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit arrested a 24-year-old West Melbourne man and a 27-year-old Kingsville man on Friday.
The West Melbourne man has been charged with 10 offences.
They include engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of an event or event contingency (x4), facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of an event or event contingency (x4), use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes and attempting to commit an indictable offence.
The man from Kingsville faces 16 offences.
READ MORE: Mum accused of killing six-year-old son in exorcism
They include use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes (x11), facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of event or event contingency (x4) and attempting to commit an indictable offence.
The pair were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 31 July.
Detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit worked with Football Australia as part of the investigation, police said.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
