A former A-League player, Riku Danzaki, and his associate, Yuta Hirayama, have been convicted and fined for engaging in yellow card betting fraud, actions described as detrimental to competitive sport. Both men received $5,000 fines following their involvement in a one-month scheme whereby Hirayama placed bets on Danzaki deliberately receiving yellow cards during matches.
During the court proceedings, magistrate Nick Goodenough highlighted the importance of integrity in sport, asserting the need to deter such behaviour. He emphasised that the trust and objectives of teams are jeopardised by these actions, which he labelled a betrayal of the sport’s ideals.
The pair pleaded guilty to seven charges of betting corruption, which included behaviour that corrupts a betting outcome and an attempt at betting fraud. They placed their illicit bets through various agencies, such as Bet365 and Tabcorp, leading to Danzaki raking in about $16,000 in winnings after intentionally receiving yellow cards in three matches. This manipulation involved Danzaki confirming his intent to Hirayama before matches on April 27, May 3, and May 9, where he engaged in reckless tackles to earn the cards.
Though they tried to place additional bets for another match involving Melbourne City, they were unsuccessful. They had agreed to split the winnings, with Danzaki receiving a larger share of 70%. Magistrate Goodenough noted their equal culpability despite different roles in the scheme, asserting that such crimes undermine both the integrity of sport and the legal betting framework.
Both Danzaki and Hirayama had relocated from Japan to advance their football careers, meeting while playing in Queensland. Danzaki had previously been signed by Brisbane Roar in the A-League, with Hirayama playing for Brisbane City. In mid-2023, Danzaki joined Western United, a club that faced financial difficulties and delayed player payments at the time of his signing. His lawyer noted that these pressures might have contributed to Danzaki’s poor decision-making, highlighting the club’s subsequent administrative issues and the revocation of its A-League licence.
Hirayama’s legal representative expressed concern that a conviction might affect her client’s student visa status, as he was suspended from Bayside Argonauts and wished to remain in Australia. Both defence attorneys urged the magistrate to consider their clients’ early pleas and cooperation with police, along with their decent character and clean records.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within competitive sport regarding integrity and the consequential ramifications of betting fraud.