By Brad Eveleigh ( @Brad_Eveleigh )
Australia’s largest ever match-fixing scandal has come to light in the Victorian Premier League as six men have been arrested in relation to the appalling sports allegations.
A manager, Goalkeeper and Malaysian national have allegedly been involved in the operations of the scam that has been reported to be valued at over $2 million.
The majority of the winnings are to have been collected from abroad with bets being placed on the bottom-placed Southern Stars in coordination to score manipulation.
The Victorian Police were informed last month of the happenings by Football Federation Australia, who received information from a Swiss-based betting data intelligence agency, Sportradar.
45-year-old Malaysian citizen Gerry Gsubramaniam of Clayton South has been accused as the main man, or as described in reports as the point of contact for the Southern Stars players.
Mr Gsubramaniam is facing five charges of facilitating conduct that corrupts or could corrupt the outcome of a betting event and five charges of engaging in conduct that corrupts or could corrupt the outcome of a betting event.
A hearing was held last night (Sunday) where acting Senior Sergeant Scott Poynder stated that Mr Gsubramaniam was the contact point and he received payments for giving Southern Stars players information on how games were to develop.
Sportradar had informed Poynder that there were at least five games identified as suspicious and this was presented at the hearing as well.
He opposed bail and Gsubramaniam was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates court on today (Monday).
Goalkeeper Joe Wooley (23) and Reiss Noel (24), both UK citizens currently residing in Preston, faces eight charges, including four counts of engaging in conduct that could corrupt the outcome of a betting event, and four charges of facilitating conduct that could corrupt the outcome of a betting event.
A further three other men, including the Manager were released on bailed and are to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates court to face the same set of charges as Noel and Wooley.
Four other men that were arrested on Sunday were released awaiting further inquiries.
GRID of SPORTS 