Three soccer players arrested over alleged match

SYDNEY (AP) — Three A-League players were arrested Friday for alleged betting corruption after police claimed they manipulated the number of yellow cards they received in games last year, Football Australia said.

New South Wales state police began an investigation in December 2023. Six months later, detectives have revealed that a “senior player” was alleged to have been taking instructions from a man — believed to be based in South America — to organize players taking yellow cards during matches for money.

Police have not publicly identified any of the players who have been charged, but investigators said all three are attached to a club based in southwest Sydney. They were scheduled to appear in court later Friday.

The Australian Associated Press news agency named the team as Macarthur FC, which finished in fifth place in the standings this season but lost in the first round of the playoffs two weeks ago.