- Three players charged with gambling-related crimes
- He will face court this month and in June.
- The three players have been removed from football
New Zealand All Whites stalwart Ben Sigmund fears the “damage” the arrest of New Zealand international Clayton Lewis has done to his promising career following his arrest for alleged betting corruption.
Lewis, 27, was one of three Macarthur FC players arrested on Friday for alleged manipulation of the yellow card in A-League matches this season following an investigation by New South Wales Police.
Macarthur’s Mexican captain Ulises Dávila, who was also Lewis’ teammate at Wellington Phoenix, and Bulls midfielder Kearyn Baccus were also arrested.
Dávila never played senior football for Mexico, while the only time Baccus was in an Australian team was at Under 17 level. His future in the A-League is now under a cloud following his arrest.
But Lewis, a former Olympian, was to be included in New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming Oceania Nations Cup.
Clayton Lewis (left) playing for New Zealand against the Australian Socceroos in 2019
Lewis was one of three A-League players arrested for their alleged role in betting corruption.
He was also on track to play in the 2026 World Cup, with the All Blacks expected to qualify for the expanded 48-team tournament that now guarantees a place for an Oceania nation.
But the World Cup dream of Lewis, accused of engaging in conduct that corrupted the outcome of betting on an event amid police allegations that he shared at least $10,000 in payments, now appears uncertain.
“Clayton Lewis has done a great job in terms of getting into the A-League and coming back to the All Whites,” former Phoenix and New Zealand defender Sigmund told radio show Newstalk ZB.
“What harm this (arrest) could cause, I don’t know,” he said.
‘It will be interesting to see what happens now. It’s about people’s careers in terms of these young players.
Lewis, right, played for the Macarthur Bulls in the Australian A-League competition.
Lewis has made 27 appearances for the All Whites and made his senior team debut as a teenager in 2015.
He made 26 A-League appearances for Macarthur this season after spending the previous three years with Phoenix.
Lewis was also part of the New Zealand under-23 team that competed at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.