Ulises Dávila of Macarthur FC controls the ball during the Australia Cup final football match between Sydney United FC and Macarthur FC on 1 October, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Steven Markham / Icon Sportswire via Photosport
Former Phoenix captain Ulises Dávila is one of three A-League players arrested in Australia over an alleged betting scandal.
Dávila, 33, the captain of Sydney club Macarthur was arrested by New South Wales in South Coogee on Friday morning following an investigation by the Organised Crime Squad Gaming Unit into the alleged manipulation of yellow cards during football games for gambling purposes.
Police allege Dávila took instructions from a man - believed to be in South America - to organise yellow cards to occur during certain points in A-League games.
The alleged offending occurred during games between 24 November and 9 December last year.
Dávila received a yellow card during Macarthur FC's game against Melbourne Victory on 24 November and another yellow card during his side's match against Sydney FC on 9 December.
Failed attempts to allegedly control the number of cards issued during games happened between 20 April and 4 May this year.
He is expected to be charged with two counts of engage in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event, and two counts of facilitate in conduct that corrupts a betting out of an event.
Dávila plays as an attacking midfielder and was the first Mexican to sign with English Premier League club Chelsea in 2011.
Ulises Davila takes a penalty for the Phoenix in a A League match in 2021. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
He played for the Phoenix between 2019-2021 before signing with Macarthur.
At the time, Phoenix general manager David Dome said the club had put considerable resource and effort into re-signing Davila.
"(The club) put forward the single-largest contract ever in its history in order to retain Ulises, who has shone in the A-League," Dome said.
Dávila recently renewed his contract with Macarthur for a further two years.
-ABC/RNZ