PFA Urges Ban on Yellow Card Betting Amid Fresh A-League Match-Fixing Scandal

Australia’s professional soccer scene has once again been rocked by allegations of match-fixing, prompting the players' union to publicly call for sweeping changes. Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), the representative body for the nation’s elite players, is demanding that Football Australia ban gambling on yellow cards following a second betting-related scandal in just 12 months. Beau Busch, CEO of the PFA, said the association had decided to go public with its criticism after a Western United player was charged with match-fixing offenses related to games in April and May.

The incident mirrors last year’s high-profile case involving three Macarthur FC players, who were charged in May 2023 for allegedly manipulating games. In both situations, players are accused of deliberately earning yellow cards, a form of spot-fixing that can influence betting markets without affecting match results.

The popularity of betting and its risky underside 

Sports betting is hugely popular in Australia. With legal frameworks and regulations in place, many Australians enjoy placing wagers on everything from AFL finals to global soccer tournaments. According to sports betting expert Lewis Humphries, betting in AUS has a lot of benefits. Some of them are promotions like deposit matches, free bets, and combo boosts. You can wager on anything, from horse racing to cricket and soccer, including deep markets on AFL and NRL. But this recent scandal reveals a vulnerable underbelly of the industry, especially when it comes to niche markets like yellow card betting.

Football Australia, currently renegotiating its contracts with bookmakers, allows betting on a wide range of in-game events. The organization also benefits financially from product fees paid by betting companies–revenue it receives on every bet placed on Australian soccer, from the elite Socceroos matches down to local amateur games. While the exact figure is not disclosed, Football Australia's 2024 annual report showed $15.1 million in “other” revenue, a category that includes gambling-related fees.

Busch argues that this financial connection comes with ethical obligations. “You should not get the benefit of this gambling money that comes into the sport without the burden of making sure our people are safe,” he said.

Integrity education under fire 

Central to the PFA’s concerns is Football Australia’s player integrity education program. Busch said it is currently limited to an annual online seminar, a format he believes is insufficient for teaching players the real-life consequences of match fixing.

“We’ve tried to work collaboratively with Football Australia to try to improve that,” Busch said. “But I don’t think there has been a significant improvement despite the damage that has occurred to the sport.”

Some years ago, integrity training was delivered through in-person workshops, often conducted during pre-season. These sessions were comprehensive and offered players a direct line of communication with Football Australia's integrity officers. Busch wants a return to this method, especially considering the league’s growing international player base.

“If you look at the players that are playing in our competition, we have a range of languages, from Spanish and Japanese, to French, Italian and German,” he noted. “We need to make sure that every single player has not only sat and watched the webinar but actually can clearly understand their obligations.”

Football Australia responds 

After questions from the ABC prompted further scrutiny, Football Australia committed to reintroducing face-to-face integrity education before the start of the next A-League season. In a statement, it said it works with several partners including Sport Integrity Australia, FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and the PFA to deliver education on match fixing and gambling risks.

“Football Australia is continually evolving the delivery of its integrity education in conjunction with other partners,” the statement read. “Football Australia continues to engage with the PFA to further strengthen the delivery and content of integrity education.”

Melbourne University sports integrity expert Jack Anderson agreed that player education is key. “Proper education, engaging with the players face-to-face and regularly circling back to them during the season, is hugely important,” he said. “When you think about the poor publicity that a sport attracts when things go wrong, any investment in education will pay huge dividends.”

Time to raise the standard 

With two match-fixing scandals in a single year and serious criminal charges on the table, the integrity of Australian soccer is under the spotlight. The PFA’s call for a ban on yellow card betting, combined with a push for improved player education, underscores a broader need for reform. Betting can remain part of the game, but only with robust safeguards in place.