In response, Football Australia issued interim suspensions and pledged to cooperate fully with authorities. Western United acknowledged the seriousness of the charges but has not made further public comment. This follows a separate scandal in 2024 involving Macarthur FC players Clayton Lewis, Ulises Davila, and Kearyn Bacchus, who were similarly charged over alleged yellow card manipulation. With multiple cases emerging in quick succession, concerns are growing among fans and officials about the credibility of live sports betting and whether current safeguards are enough to protect the game’s integrity.
That growing doubt has pushed many people toward online gambling, where things are often easier to monitor. Unlike live sports, where a single player’s decision can affect the outcome of a bet, games at reputable online casinos are run using certified systems that ensure fairness. These platforms are licensed, regularly audited, and use software that players or outside parties can’t manipulate. According to iGaming expert Viola D'Elia, many of the best online casinos in June 2025 offer players access to thousands of provably fair games that, through blockchain technology, cannot be tampered with. They also offer players a wide range of safe, flexible, and transparent transaction methods and generous bonuses. This gives many gamblers more confidence, knowing they’re betting in a controlled environment where results aren’t tied to someone’s actions on a field, and players are protected through licensed and trusted regulated environments.
Back in football, concerns continue to rise over how certain bets, like those placed on yellow cards, are even allowed. Experts say these moments are easy to manipulate. A single player can commit a harmless foul or delay play slightly to draw a booking without impacting the rest of the match. This makes yellow cards an obvious target for those looking to fix games without raising alarms.
Football Australia, which was told about the review in April, says it supports efforts to strengthen protections around the sport. The organisation has the legal authority to set betting rules and earns a share of revenue from wagers placed on matches, including those on minor in-game events. That’s part of what regulators are now reviewing: whether the betting options offered go too far and create risks that aren’t worth the money they bring in.
Back in 2023, it was revealed that Football Australia had approved betting markets for every level of football, from international matches down to local amateur games. This goes beyond what other sports in Australia allow. Both the AFL and NRL only permit gambling on their top two divisions, which limits exposure to integrity issues. Critics argue that allowing betting on lower levels of the game opens the door for manipulation by players who aren't paid as much and may be more easily influenced. Some also point out that certain bets, while legal, may carry unnecessary risk purely because of how simple they are to influence, especially in matches without large-scale media coverage or officiating scrutiny.
With international cases also making headlines, like the ongoing investigation into West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta, the pressure is building on sports bodies around the world to reconsider how betting and football interact. For now, the spotlight is firmly on Football Australia, and what comes from this review could shape the future of betting in the sport.
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