Eds: Clarifies ages of accused Younan and Obaze on updated court information.
An international match-fixing syndicate was "clumsy" in its efforts to rig Victorian soccer matches, with people shouting suspicious instructions from the sidelines.
English defender Reiss Noel and goalkeeper Joe Woolley have been convicted and fined for fixing games while playing with the Southern Stars in the semi-professional Victorian Premier League this year.
The syndicate's alleged local ringleader, Segaran "Gerry" Gsubramaniam, 45, of Malaysia, also pleaded guilty on Friday to a match fixing charge and will face a plea hearing in April.
Noel and Woolley's defence lawyer, Anthony Brand, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court the two players were "expendable" parts of the syndicate, which was well-orchestrated but clumsy in its plans to fix games in Australia.
Mr Brand said people had been seen on the sidelines at Southern Stars games shouting suspicious instructions and opposing teams questioned the dubious results.
Prosecutor Peter Rose SC said the two players would help manipulate the scoreline to pre-determined levels, as well as passing on instructions to other players.
The Southern Stars won just one of their 21 games in season 2013, and their results have since been declared invalid by the Football Federation of Victoria.
Mr Rose said Woolley and Noel were skilled players who had reached a high level in England.
"They were able to change the results of the games with some ease," he said.
Mr Rose said both players had made full admissions about their conduct and had agreed to testify against two other Southern Stars players and manager Zia Younan.
He said they did not make much money out of the scheme.
Data company Sportradar alerted Australian authorities to the potential of Southern Stars matches being fixed after noticing large amounts of money being wagered, Mr Rose said.
Mr Brand told the court the instructions to fix matches were given to the players by Younan.
Mr Brand said Noel and Woolley were ashamed and embarrassed about their conduct.
"They appreciate that their careers in soccer are completely finished," he said.
Mr Brand said the two made stupid decisions, but believed that match fixing was already going on at the club before they arrived.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen fined Woolley $1200 for his part in fixing three matches, while Noel received a $2000 fine for helping to fix four games.
Mr Vandersteen said the offending was serious, but conceded the two men had no idea about the wider implications of their conduct.
Younan, 37, and English players David Obaze, 24, and Nicholas McKoy, 27, have been charged with match fixing offences, and will return to the Melbourne Magistrates Court on December 20.
Gsubramaniam's plea hearing on a single charge of engaging in conduct that corrupts or could corrupt the outcome of a betting event will be held in the Victorian County Court on April 11.
