Australian League: Four players suspended for several years for match-fixing offences

Four players have been banned from all football-related activities for several years for their role in match-fixing crimes in the A-League.

Kieren Backus and former New Zealand international Clayton Lewis were paid A$10,000 (£4,940) each for a booking during a Macarthur FC v Sydney FC match in December 2023.

Both were sentenced to two years’ supervised release, external in September and has now been banned for five years by Football Australia, effective May 2024.

They also accepted the offer to complete 200 hours of unpaid football-related community service to reduce their 12-month ban.

Meanwhile, Rico Danzaki and his Japanese compatriot Yuta Hirayama have been banned for seven years from June 2025.

Danzaki, a former Western United midfielder, pleaded guilty in August, external For deliberately earning yellow cards in several A-League matches in April and May.

He made A$16,000 (£7,900) from bets placed by his friend Hirayama, an amateur player.

The four decided not to exercise their right to appeal and accepted the sanctions.