Two Melbourne-based soccer players front court over match-fixing allegations

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Two Melbourne-based soccer players have fronted court to face a raft of match-fixing charges amid allegations one of them deliberately elicited yellow cards to manipulate the outcome of online bets as part of an elaborate fraud scheme.

Japanese-born Western United A-League midfielder Riku Danzaki has been charged with 10 offences, including allegations he deliberately received a yellow card during a match between Western United Football Club and Sydney Football Club on April 27 as part of an illegal betting ring.

Riku Danzaki (left) arrives at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Danzaki, 25, whose contract was not extended by Western United at the end of the 2025 season, is also accused of attempting to profit from the scheme by placing a bet in an attempt to win thousands of dollars.

He appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday where his lawyer asked for him to be considered for a diversion program to avoid criminal conviction.

Among a spate of other charges, Danzaki is accused of entering into an “agreement or arrangement” that “corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome” with the intention of obtaining financial advantage or causing financial disadvantage in connection with betting for matches between April 26 and May 22 this year.

Danzaki’s co-accused, Yuta Hirayama, a striker for the Bayside Argonauts, also appeared in court charged with 17 offences, including several counts of using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes and facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome.

Charge sheet documents released by the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court allege Hirayama knew that Danzaki would receive a yellow card during the April 27 match and used that information to place a $250 at Bet365 at odds of $6.50 to win $1375.

Hirayama is accused of also possessing information that Danzaki would receive a yellow card during a match between Western United and Auckland Football Club on May 3. He then allegedly used that information to place several more bets, including a $213 bet with Bet365, where he made a profit of almost $1600.

He is also accused of placing other bets for the same match in May winning more than $10,000 in total profit.

Referee Alex King shows the yellow card to Riku Danzaki of Western United during the round 28 A-League Men match between Western United and Sydney FC at Ironbark Fields, on April 27, 2025.

On May 8, the Bayside striker is accused of similar conduct, with police alleging he used “corrupt” information that Danzaki would deliberately receive a yellow card during a match between Western United and Adelaide Football Club.

It is alleged he placed several bets with Tabcorp, winning more than $5500.

On May 22, this year, charge sheets show Danzaki is accused of entering into another arrangement, this time allegedly agreeing to deliberately receive a yellow card during a match between Western United and Melbourne City.

Police allege Danzaki attempted to place a $1000 bet with licensed bookmaker Tabcorp that he would earn a yellow card during the match – a bet that if placed would have won him $3250.

Yuta Hirayama leaving Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Investigators allege Hirayama also attempted to profit from this match by using information fed to him that Danzaki would again allegedly deliberately get a yellow card.

Hirayama attempted to win more than $3000 from Tabcorp when he placed a $1000 bet.

Manipulating yellow cards occurs when a player sets out to attract a yellow card at a certain point of the game to match with a corresponding bet.

Some gambling companies offer bets on whether a particular player will get a yellow card. Some bets offered by overseas bookmakers narrow this down to a specific time in the game.

Football Australia placed “no-fault interim suspensions” on the two players after the charges.

In soccer, referees give players yellow cards for misconduct, abuse, simulation [diving], bad tackles that aren’t serious enough to warrant a red card, and repeated fouls. One yellow card means the player stays on the pitch. Two yellow cards mean they are sent off.

In June, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission announced it would launch a “suitability review” of Football Australia examining the governing body’s integrity measures, as well as the range of betting markets it allows on soccer games in Australia.

Police previously said detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit worked closely with Football Australia during its investigation.

Police executed warrants in Richmond, West Melbourne and Kingsville earlier this year before the two men were arrested.

At the time, the Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the A-League, said it wouldn’t compromise on integrity.

Both Danzaki and Hirayama were ordered to reappear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next month.

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