Police have arrested and charged four men over an allegedly corrupt conduct in relation to wagering on the high-profile Brownlow Medal Awards. Among those charged, however, is a former AFL umpire. The probe into the 2021 and 2022 awards has resulted in charges against former state employees. These new revelations cast a deep shadow over the veracity of the event and those who participated.
A gang leader from Hadfield, a suburb in Melbourne’s north-east, was remanded in custody over 23 charges related to extorting the 2021 Brownlow Medal. He is charged with having participated in the corrupt conduct of using that insider information to place bets in 15 different individual cases. In addition, he is charged with eight counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
In a major breakthrough, a 35-year-old Reservoir man has been charged with 53 counts of offences. These charges are related to the illegal funding of the Brownlow Medal Awards in 2021 and 2022. This person is being charged with using tipped conduct info for gambling purposes 34 times. In addition, he is accused of receiving financial gain by deceit in 15 cases. He purportedly posted information on rigging bets to win three times. In yet another example, he personally solicited gambling.
A second man, 32 from Doreen, has been charged with 20 offences related to betting on the same awards. He is charged with 18 counts of using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes and two counts of communicating such information.
Michael Pell, a former AFL umpire, 38, pleads not guilty to all six charges. These charges stem from his betting on the outcome of the 2021 Brownlow Medal. In all three cases, Pell is charged with using inside information on corrupt conduct for betting purposes. In addition, prosecutors have charged him with participating in corrupt conduct for betting on three separate counts.
All four men are due to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 11.
The allegations have already sparked a major outcry within the AFL community, and calls to protect the integrity of the Brownlow Medal. We can’t go back on choice,” AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan responded to these fears at a press conference over the weekend.
“I think the umpires have been hurting but I don’t think the integrity of the Brownlow is compromised in any way.” – Gillon McLachlan
McLachlan went on to describe the effect that these allegations will have on the entire umpiring community.
“The allegations have wounded the umpires personally and I feel for them, but I don’t think it bleeds into the Brownlow (itself).” – Gillon McLachlan
While police investigation is still ongoing, authorities are still sorting through the evidence stemming from this alarming accusation. These examples illustrate the major concerns over corruption in sports betting. This is no more apparent than during high-profile red-carpet events such as the Brownlow Medal.
