Former Chelsea player admitted to yellow card scheme: how they earned nearly £100,000.

Ulysses Dabila admitted to involvement in the yellow card fixing scheme

According to The Sun: Former Chelsea player Ulysses Dabila confirmed that he participated in a yellow card fixing scheme. The Mexican midfielder, who joined the Blues in 2011, is accused of leading a group that earned nearly £100,000 in winnings from bookmakers.

Case details

Dabila pleaded guilty to simplifying and participating in manipulations that influenced betting results in six matches of the Australian A-League in 2023 and 2024. The former captain of Macarthur FC and A-League player of the year appeared in court on Thursday, admitting that he organized this operation along with two teammates.

The scandal is linked to a match against Sydney FC in December 2023, when Dabila received a yellow card for kicking the ball. His actions were allegedly part of a coordinated campaign in which bets were placed on whether Macarthur players would receive at least four warnings.

Macarthur player Clayton Lewis received a card for pushing an opponent, and Kieran Bakas was cautioned for dangerous play.

They avoided a guilty verdict with a plea deal, stating in court that they acted at Dabila's request, describing him as 'not only the captain of the team but also the captain of the scheme.'

All three players were suspended and released from their contracts. Dabila, the first Mexican player to sign with Chelsea, allegedly paid his teammates around £5,000 each for their involvement.

Career and future

The 34-year-old player gained popularity in Australia late in his career after a disappointing stint at Chelsea. The Blues signed him to a five-year contract after a successful performance for Mexico in the Under-20 World Cup. However, he never played for the national team, complicating his work permit acquisition in England.

Chelsea loaned him to Vitesse Arnhem along with Czech defender Tomas Kalas, but he primarily spent time in the reserves in the Netherlands before moving to Spanish clubs Sabadell, Cordoba, and Tenerife. His time at Chelsea ended after a short loan to Vitoria Setubal in Portugal, after which he returned to Mexico to Santos Laguna.

He then played for Delhi Dynamos in India, as well as Wellington Phoenix and Macarthur FC in Australia. Dabila is scheduled to appear at a hearing on December 19. Eight additional charges – including charges of leading a criminal organization – were dropped by prosecutors in Downing County Court.

This case draws significant attention as it highlights the serious challenges faced by professional sports in combating corruption. Schemes of this nature can have devastating consequences not only for the athletes involved but for the entire sport, undermining the trust of spectators and fans.