Eight days before the new season commenced, the NRL’s betting scandal erupted with the arrest of notable figures Sam Ayoub and John Elias, alongside increased charges against Canterbury-Bankstown forward Ryan Tandy.
On the day when Tandy made his court appearance, Taskforce Suburb officers targeted player agent Ayoub and admitted match-fixer Elias, subsequently charging both with the intent to defraud betting agencies.
Ayoub’s office located in the Leichhardt suburb of Sydney was also subjected to a police raid.
The two have been released on conditional bail and are scheduled to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on April 7; they face the possibility of 10 years in prison if convicted. However, both men have denied any links to the purported betting scandal.
“Allegations will be made that these individuals placed bets dishonestly,” stated Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis.
“These are severe allegations that strike at the core of the game.”
Danny Eid, Ayoub’s attorney, declined to comment regarding his client’s defense strategy, merely stating: “I’ll address the court on April 7.”
The escalation of the scandal, relating to a round 24 match between Canterbury-Bankstown and the North Queensland Cowboys from August, surfaced a day after the NRL kicked off its new season, coinciding with Dally M medallist Todd Carney being penalized for another alcohol-related incident.
“This development is incredibly alarming,” remarked NRL CEO David Gallop.
“I cannot pass judgment on the guilt or innocence of those charged. What I can affirm is that the game remains steadfast in its commitment to thoroughly investigate such matters and ensure they are handed over to the police promptly.
“In this instance, we have done just that, and now we must allow law enforcement and the judicial process to proceed.”
Additionally, another NRL match might be scrutinized, as one of Tandy’s three new charges includes providing false or misleading evidence regarding a game between the Bulldogs and Gold Coast that took place on June 18 last year.
Ayoub also represents numerous prominent figures within the sport, such as Johnathan Thurston, Robbie Farah, and Jamal Idris.
There is no indication of any wrongdoing by these players.
Elias, known for his colorful presence in rugby league, has served prison time three times and acknowledged attempting to fix a game in the 1990s in his recent publication.
Investigators from the NSW Crime Command’s Casino and Racing Investigation Unit have been looking into a betting surge on an option predicting that the first points scored in the Bulldogs-Cowboys game would stem from a penalty goal.
Two minutes into the match, Tandy faced a penalty near the goalposts; however, the Cowboys chose not to attempt a goal kick and instead opted for a try.
During Thursday’s proceedings at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court, the Bulldogs prop pleaded not guilty to four charges of providing false evidence.
His bail was further extended, and the case was postponed for mention, also on April 7.
Officials indicated that the investigation is still active but refrained from speculating on the likelihood of additional arrests.
by Buford Balony
