Key Takeaways:
- Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were handed two-year conditional release orders without criminal conviction on Wednesday in Sydney
- The ex-Macarthur duo must repay the $10,000 received in exchange for deliberately earning yellow cards in December 2023
- Alleged ringleader Ulises Davila, now facing nine charges, is due in court on Thursday
Court Sentencing and Orders
Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis, both former players for Macarthur Bulls, have avoided convictions after being found guilty of accepting $10,000 to intentionally receive yellow cards. The ruling, delivered at Sydney’s Central Local Court on Wednesday, imposed two-year conditional release orders upon both men – a measure comparable to a good behaviour bond – while also forcing them to return the $10,000 received as a penalty.
Clayton Lewis and Kearyn Baccus have been sentenced to two-year community release orders without convictions for deliberately earning yellow cards.
The pair pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event.
There was no evidence that Lewis or… pic.twitter.com/gAIYfSsSKD
— Matt Vandenberg (@M1D3V) September 24, 2025
The Scheme and Its Orchestration
The incident stemmed from a match between Macarthur Bulls and Sydney FC on 9 December 2023, where bets had been placed on the Bulls receiving a minimum of four yellow cards. Payouts resulting from wagers placed via Betplay in South America are reported to have totalled over $167,000, with the operation allegedly coordinated by then-captain Ulises Davila. Magistrate Michael Blair described Baccus and Lewis as being at “the bottom of the scheme”, noting the influence Davila, identified in court as both their team and scheme captain, held over the two players.
Agreed Facts and Legal Arguments
The agreed facts presented in court included the detail that Davila had approached Lewis specifically because of the latter’s previous issues with gambling addiction and with the promise of “a little bit of extra coin”. No evidence was found indicating that Baccus or Lewis were aware of the larger betting operation or the actual sums being wagered on their actions. Defence submissions emphasised the power imbalance at play, and while the prosecution argued for a harsher penalty for Baccus due to attempts to disguise his payment as a car purchase, magistrate Blair determined the offences constituted low-level wrongdoing for both men.
Aftermath and Ongoing Developments
Following their arrests, all three players involved were suspended by Macarthur FC. Both Davila and Baccus have since departed from the club, with Baccus now employed as a truck driver. Davila continues to face serious allegations, currently charged with acting as an intermediary between the Macarthur players and a Colombian criminal known as ‘J Col’. He is scheduled to face court on Thursday, answering to nine separate charges.
| Player | Offence | Penalty Imposed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kearyn Baccus | Accepted $10,000 for deliberate yellow card | Two-year conditional release, $10,000 repayment | Released by club, now truck driver |
| Clayton Lewis | Accepted $10,000 for deliberate yellow card | Two-year conditional release, $10,000 repayment | Suspended by club |
| Ulises Davila | Allegedly orchestrated the scheme | Court proceedings pending (Thursday), nine charges | Released by club |
