- Three A-League players were arrested over an alleged betting scheme involving yellow cards. 
- The scheme reportedly involved matches against Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC in November and December. 
- UK Gambling Commission aided the probe; charges include corrupting betting outcomes. 

Three A-League players have been arrested for alleged betting corruption after police claimed they manipulated the number of yellow cards they received in matches. 

NSW Police launched an investigation in December into the alleged yellow-card manipulation. 

Six months later, detectives revealed a “senior player” was allegedly taking instructions from a man — believed to be based in South America — to organise players taking yellow cards for money during matches. 

Police are yet to name any of the players who have been charged, but investigators said all three are attached to a club based in southwest Sydney. 

Police say yellow cards were manipulated during games played on November 24 and December 9. 

They also allege unsuccessful attempts were made to do the same thing during matches on April 20 and May 4. 

Police executed a search warrant at South Coogee in Sydney’s east on Friday, when they arrested a 33-year-old man. 

A 27-year-old was arrested in the suburb of Parramatta, while a 32-year-old was arrested in Campbelltown. 

The oldest of the trio is expected to be charged with two counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event, and two counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event. 

The other two players are set to be charged with engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event. 

-Alex Mitchell, AAP