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6 months ago
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New Zealand All Whites stalwart Ben Sigmund fears the 'damage' New Zealand international Clayton Lewis’ arrest has caused to his promising career following his arrest for alleged betting corruption.
Lewis, 27, was one of three Macarthur FC players arrested on Friday for alleged yellow-card manipulation in A-League matches this season after an investigation by NSW police.
Macarthur's Mexican captain Ulises Davila, who was also a teammate of Lewis' at Wellington Phoenix, and Bulls midfielder Kearyn Baccus were also arrested.
Davila never played senior level football for Mexico, while Baccus' only time in an Australian squad was at Under 17 level. Their futures in the A-League are now under a cloud following their arrest.
But Lewis, a former Olympian, was set to be named in New Zealand's squad for the upcoming Oceania Nations Cup.
Clayton Lewis (left) playing for New Zealand against the Australian Socceroos in 2019
Lewis was one of three A-League players arrested for his alleged role in betting corruption
He was also on track to play at the 2026 World Cup, with the All Blacks expected to qualify for the expanded 48-team tournament that now guarantees a spot for an Oceania nation.
However the World Cup dream of Lewis, who was charged with engage in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event amid allegations by police he shared in at least $10,000 in payments, now seems uncertain.
'Clayton Lewis has done a great job in terms of getting himself into the A-League and back into the All Whites,' former Phoenix and New Zealand defender Sigmund told the Newstalk ZB radio program.
'What damage this [arrest] might do, I don't know,' he said.
'It will be interesting to see what plays out now. It's people's careers in terms of these young players.
Lewis, right, was playing for the Macarthur Bulls in the Australian A-League competition
Lewis has made 27 appearances for the All Whites, debuting in the senior national team as a teenager in 2015.
He made 26 A-League appearances for Macarthur this season after spending the previous three years with the Phoenix.
Lewis was also part of the New Zealand under-23 team that competed at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
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