Hours after Davila fronted Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Monday for the first mention of his case as the alleged ringleader of a scheme which police say saw players deliberately attempt to ‘earn’ yellow cards for payment,the club released a short statement on social media confirming his departure.
Macarthur FC club captain Ulises Davila.Getty
The decision to terminate Davila’s contract was mutual,the post said. Less than three months earlier,Davila signed a two-year extension,and described Macarthur FC as “like my home” - not long before he,Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis were arrested in dawn raids on May 17 and charged with offences related to the alleged deliberate accrual of yellow cards in two A-League matches.
Police allege they were assisting Colombian crime figure who was directing Davila and placed bets on those players receiving yellow cards,leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in winnings being paid out.
Baccus,who was also recently released from his contract at Macarthur FC,was not present on Monday when his case was also mentioned. Lewis is due to face court on Thursday.
Davila and Baccus have not commented on the charges. Lewis’ lawyer,Zemarai Khatiz,has previously said his client would plead not guilty.
Police allege Davila,Baccus and Lewis were involved in the manipulation of yellow cards in Macarthur’s A-League matches against Melbourne Victory on November 24 and Sydney FC on December 9,while two other failed attempts were made at later dates.
Court documents alleged the offshore figure from South America,who police have claimed was instructing Davila,was from Colombia. The documents also alleged Davila had used his position as club captain to encourage other players to become involved by committing on-field offences for payment. Police have claimed Baccus and Lewis were each paid up to $10,000 for taking part.
The documents again allege Baccus,Lewis and two other players who have not been charged,Matthew Millar and Jed Drew,were members of the so-called “criminal group” behind the spot-fixing operation.
Millar was also released by Macarthur FC earlier this month,while Drew is not considered a suspect and is not under police investigation,Football Australia said in a statement earlier this month.
Davila had a small win when deputy chief magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis agreed to wind back his bail conditions,with the 33-year-old now required to report to police once a week instead of twice.
The court heard that a brief of evidence would be presented to the players’ lawyers by August 22.
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