- Dandenong Thunder play in Victoria’s NPL 1 competition
- The highest level in the state besides the A-League
- The club is “deeply concerned” by allegations of match-fixing
- Thunder official also accused of drug crimes
A semi-professional football club competing at Victoria’s top level in the A-League is facing an uncertain future following allegations of match-fixing.
Police also charged a prominent Dandenong Thunder club official with drug offences.
The spectacular development comes after a trio of A-League stars were arrested earlier this year following alleged “spot-fixing” in matches involving Macarthur FC.
Police allege that former captain Ulises Dávila passed $10,000 to a pair of his teammates to deliberately receive cautions during specific matches.
Dávila, 33, was allegedly working with a suspected organized crime figure based in South America.
Bulls midfielder Kearyn Baccus and New Zealand international Clayton Lewis were immediately withdrawn pending investigation, and the matter is still before the courts.
A semi-professional football club competing at Victoria’s top level in the A-League faces an uncertain future following allegations of match-fixing (Dandenong Thunder logo pictured)
Police also charged a Dandenong Thunder club official with drug offenses (pictured, the club’s stadium).
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that any of the Thunder players or coaches are involved in any illegal activity (file image)
Meanwhile, a Dandenong Thunder spokesperson told the star diary The club was “deeply concerned” by the allegations.
“Dandenong Thunder are deeply concerned by the allegations relating to our club,” a statement read.
“The club will not make any further statements while an investigation is carried out.”
Daily Mail Australia understands police raided the Dandenong Thunder clubrooms at George Andrews Reserve as well as several nearby homes on December 11 to investigate suspicions of match-fixing.
Victoria Police confirmed detectives from the Sports Integrity Intelligence Unit and Viper Task Force executed warrants at addresses in Dandenong in Melbourne’s south-east in relation to “an ongoing investigation into a sports club”.
The club will be alleged to have links to suspected organized crime figures.
It does not appear that any match-fixing charges have been filed at this time.
A 29-year-old Dandenong man was charged with cultivating a narcotic plant, possessing a habit-forming drug and failing to comply with an order to provide data from a storage device.
Another Dandenong man, 33, was charged with drug possession and both were released on bail to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
A third Dandenong man, aged 44, was arrested and released pending further investigation, police said, while the investigation by anti-gang and sports corruption detectives is ongoing.
Founded by Albanian immigrants in the 1970s, Thunder club members are predominantly made up of Albanian Australians.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that any of the Thunder players or coaches are involved in any illegal activity.