Key Takeaways
- A former AFL player agent, Ricky Nixon, has been found guilty of selling fraudulently signed footballs to fans.
- The footballs were purportedly signed by Melbourne’s 2021 premiership side, but seven members of the team gave evidence that they had not signed the balls.
- Nixon sold the footballs on Facebook for $595 each, despite paying only $18,000 for over 40 footballs.
- The magistrate found Nixon guilty of four charges, including obtaining property by deception and deceptively using a false document.
- Nixon has been ordered to pay back the three customers $595 each and has been fined $4,500.
Introduction to the Case
The case against Ricky Nixon, a former AFL player agent, has been highly publicized due to the involvement of several high-profile football players. Nixon was found guilty of selling fraudulently signed footballs to fans, with seven members of the Melbourne premiership side giving evidence against him. The players, including Max Gawn, Charlie Spargo, and Christian Salem, all stated that they had not signed the footballs that Nixon had sold. This evidence was crucial in proving Nixon’s guilt, as it showed that the signatures on the balls were not genuine.
The Purchase and Sale of the Footballs
Nixon had purchased over 40 footballs from a man in a car park for $18,000. He then sold three of these footballs on Facebook for $595 each, claiming that they were signed by the Melbourne premiership side. However, when the customers received the footballs, they noticed that the signatures did not match the players’ genuine signatures. One customer, Warwick Weir, even contacted Nixon about a discrepancy in the signature, only to be told that the player had apologized for the mistake. However, this was later found to be a lie, as the player in question had never signed a football with the incorrect number.
The Players’ Testimony
The testimony of the Melbourne players was instrumental in proving Nixon’s guilt. Max Gawn, the captain of the team, stated that he and the team had signed a large number of items after their premiership win, but that the signatures on the footballs sold by Nixon were not genuine. Charlie Spargo also gave evidence, stating that the handwriting on the football did not match his own. The other players who gave evidence, including Christian Salem, Tom McDonald, Trent Rivers, Steven May, and Jake Lever, all stated that they had not signed the footballs or did not remember signing them.
The Magistrate’s Verdict
The magistrate, Brett Sonnet, found Nixon guilty of four charges, including obtaining property by deception and deceptively using a false document. He stated that it was "indisputable" that the signatures on the balls did not correspond with real signatures from the Melbourne premiership side. Nixon was fined $4,500 and ordered to pay back the three customers $595 each. The magistrate’s verdict was a significant blow to Nixon, who had attempted to deceive the customers into buying the fake merchandise.
Conclusion and Aftermath
The case against Ricky Nixon has highlighted the importance of verifying the authenticity of signed merchandise. The Melbourne players who gave evidence were disappointed that their fans had been deceived into buying fake merchandise, and the case has served as a warning to others who may attempt to engage in similar fraudulent activities. Outside the court, Charlie Spargo expressed his disappointment, stating that it was "just frustrating for the fans and the football club." The case has also raised questions about the regulation of the sports memorabilia industry, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the sale of signed merchandise.