- Dandenong Thunder play in Victoria’s NPL 1 competition
- Highest level in the state next to the A-League
- Club is ‘deeply concerned’ about allegations of match fixing
- Thunder official also charged with drug offences
A semi-professional football club playing at Victoria’s top level in the A-League is facing an uncertain future after allegations of match fixing.
Police have also charged a prominent Dandenong Thunder club official with drug offences.
The development comes after a trio of A-League stars were arrested earlier this year after alleged ‘spot-fixing’ in matches involving Macarthur FC.
Police allege that former captain Ulises Dávila passed $10,000 to some of his teammates to deliberately receive warnings during targeted matches.
Davila, 33, reportedly worked with a suspected organized crime figure in South America.
Bulls midfielder Kearyn Baccus and New Zealand international Clayton Lewis were immediately dismissed pending investigations, while the case remains before the courts.
A semi-professional football club playing at Victoria’s top level in the A-League faces an uncertain future after allegations of match-fixing (pictured, the Dandenong Thunder logo)
Police have also charged a Dandenong Thunder club official with drug offenses (pictured, club’s home ground)
Ny Breaking Australia does not suggest Thunder players or coaches are involved in any illegal activity (stock image)
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Dandenong Thunder told the Star Diary the club was ‘deeply concerned’ by the allegations.
“Dandenong Thunder are seriously concerned by the allegations relating to our club,” a statement said.
“The club will make no further statement while the investigation is ongoing.”
Ny Breaking Australia has learned that police raided Dandenong Thunder’s clubrooms at George Andrews Reserve, as well as several nearby homes, on December 11 to investigate suspected match-fixing.
Victoria Police confirmed detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit and the Viper taskforce had served arrest warrants at Dandenong addresses in Melbourne’s south-east in connection with “an ongoing investigation into a sporting club”.
It is alleged that the club has links to suspected organized crime figures.
No match-fixing charges appear to have been laid at this stage.
A Dandenong man, 29, was charged with growing a narcotic plant, possession of a drug of addiction and failing to comply with an order to provide data from a storage device.
Another Dandenong man, 33, was charged with drug possession, and the pair were ordered to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on bail.
A third Dandenong man, 44, was arrested and released pending further investigation, police said, while the investigation by anti-gang and sports corruption detectives was ongoing.
Founded by Albanian migrants in the 1970s, the Thunder club’s membership consists mainly of Albanian Australians.
Ny Breaking Australia does not suggest that Thunder players or coaches are involved in any illegal activity.