Police are investigating allegations that players at a former A-League club were approached by representatives of a Chinese company to manipulate betting outcomes after a match was dramatically abandoned just hours before it was due to begin.
The probe involves former A-League team Gold Coast United, whose latest game in the semi-professional National Premier Leagues Queensland on Wednesday night was abruptly called off on match day after an intervention by Football Australia (FA), who have also reported the matter to Sport Integrity Australia.
Gold Coast United played in the A-League before owner Clive Palmer’s licence was revoked in 2012. Credit: Aresna Villanueva
“Football Australia is aware of an alleged integrity issue in Queensland,” a spokesperson for FA said.
“Football Australia has reported the matter to Sport Integrity Australia and the Queensland Police for investigation and, accordingly, won’t be providing any further comment while the investigation is ongoing.”
Gold Coast United’s men’s team were scheduled to take on Brisbane side Moreton City Excelsior in a second-versus-third match in the state’s top-tier competition, but football authorities intervened and postponed it.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity for legal reasons, officials were made aware of alleged approaches to players by representatives of a Chinese company.
It was not clear whether they encouraged players to lose matches, give away yellow cards or perform other on-field actions for betting purposes. Players were said to have rebuffed the advances.
Gold Coast United chairman Andrew Parkes confirmed the club had been advised that the game would not go ahead on Wednesday but said he had no further information.
Head coach Craig Midgley, a former player in England’s lower leagues, said he was also unable to comment while police were investigating.
Football Queensland declined to comment.
There had been a mass exodus from the club in the lead-up to the abandoned match amid concerns Gold Coast United may not see out the season, with as many as eight players departing and joining other teams.
This masthead does not suggest there has been any wrongdoing by those players or those who remain at the club.
The club is still expected to complete the season.
Queensland Police was contacted for comment.
There was no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of the team’s players or coaches, and no match-fixing charges were laid.
Gold Coast United previously played for three seasons in Australia’s professional competition, the A-League, when they were owned by mining magnate and maverick politician Clive Palmer.
His licence was revoked in 2012 during a high-profile dispute with Football Federation Australia, as the sport’s national governing body was then called, and Western Sydney Wanderers replaced the team from the tourist strip in the A-League the following season.
Palmer has had no involvement with Gold Coast United since then.
The club re-formed and entered the National Premier Leagues Queensland in 2018, but has explored a possible re-entry into the A-League.
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