Award-winning investigative journalist Nick McKenzie, reporting for The Age, has uncovered a series of alleged nefarious activities involving the National Premier League (NPL) semi-professional football club, Dandenong Thunder.
Founded by Albanian migrants in the 1970s, the Thunder’s club membership is predominantly composed of Albanian Australians with roots in Kišava, a village in south-western North Macedonia.
According to McKenzie’s report, “anti-gang and sports corruption detectives are investigating suspected match-fixing” linked to the club. On Wednesday morning, authorities from Victoria Police’s Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit and Viper Taskforce raided the Dandenong Thunder’s headquarters, nearby homes, and properties associated with club supporters and a senior official, seeking evidence of rigged matches designed to deliver betting windfalls.
During the raids, police reportedly laid several drugs charges relating to possessing narcotics and cultivating cannabis. McKenzie revealed that one of the two men arrested on drug-related charges is a senior club official who, in 2023, appeared alongside ALP state politicians to announce a $700,000 taxpayer-funded grant for upgrades to the Thunder’s home ground.
The Thunder is one of two Victorian National Premier League clubs that The Age claims has “deep links to suspected organised crime figures.” Separately, in New South Wales, detectives have charged three A-League players with sporting corruption offences related to a suspected organised crime figure based in South America.
McKenzie’s report notes he received a “tip-off” from two confidential sources closely associated with the Thunder, who requested anonymity due to their ties within the Albanian community. Police confirmed that their investigation, which led to the execution of search warrants in Dandenong, is ongoing.
In a statement to the Star Journal on 12 December, the club expressed concern about the allegations, stating:
“Dandenong Thunder is deeply concerned by allegations connected to our club. The club will not make any further statement whilst an investigation is ongoing and appreciate your understanding regarding this matter.”
Charges Laid
- 29-year-old Dandenong man was charged with cultivating a narcotic plant, possession of a drug of dependence, and failing to comply with an order to provide data from a storage device.
- 33-year-old Dandenong man was charged with drug possession.
- 44-year-old Dandenong man was arrested and released pending further inquiries.
The two men charged were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
Broader Implications
The Dandenong Thunder competes in Victoria’s National Premier League, the state’s most senior football competition. McKenzie’s report highlights the “potential vulnerability of the lower levels of Australian football to corruption,” as lower pay for players and officials can make them susceptible to illicit approaches from corrupt punters.
However, The Age makes it clear that “there is no suggestion that any of the Thunder’s players or coaches are implicated in any wrongdoing.” Investigators believe those raided are suspected of either attempting to manipulate betting outcomes or using insider information for betting purposes.
Community and political connections
The Thunder serves as a hub for Dandenong’s Albanian community, which also gathers at the local mosque and market. In October 2023, Labor minister Gabrielle Williams and backbencher Lee Tarlamis, announced a $700,000 upgrade to the Thunder’s George Andrews Reserve at a media event, describing it as “the home of elite football in Dandenong.”
At the event, six-time Dandenong Mayor Jim Memeti, a longtime Thunder supporter, was present alongside the senior club official who was later charged.
An analysis of court records by The Age reveals that some prominent club supporters have faced serious criminal charges in Australia or overseas, or are connected to Albanian organised crime networks.
McKenzie concludes that the investigation underscores the risks of corruption in Australian football, particularly at its lower tiers, where games draw online betting markets and external pressures may infiltrate the sport.
