Lucas Paqueta’s family has come under investigation by the Football Association (FA) following allegations of their involvement in a spot-fixing scandal.
Paqueta’s uncle and cousin, Bruno and Yan Tolentino, are accused of paying former Real Betis striker Luiz Henrique over £5,000 shortly after Henrique received two controversial yellow cards. These incidents led both La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to launch an investigation into the matter.
The betting irregularities surrounding Henrique’s bookings have been linked to the FA’s probe into Paqueta’s alleged involvement in similar spot-fixing activities.
Reports suggest that Paqueta is facing four charges of spot-fixing, a serious offence that could have dire consequences for the Brazilian midfielder.
The investigation was sparked by integrity alerts over suspicious betting patterns involving both Paqueta and Henrique, which were reportedly flagged by West Ham’s sponsor, Betway, an online gambling company.
Further complicating the situation is the belief that many of the questionable bets placed on Paqueta’s matches were made by his own family members.
Bruno Tolentino’s Explanation
In an interview with Brazilian media outlet UOL, Paqueta’s uncle, Bruno Tolentino, acknowledged making two bank transfers amounting to £5,500 to Henrique. However, Tolentino insisted that the payments were linked to a personal loan rather than anything illicit.
He stated: “It was money that I owed him and I paid it. It was an agreement between us. It was money that I owed him and he had lent it to me. We agreed to pay it back and we did. When I had the money to pay it back, I paid it. I can play, I’m not prohibited. I just can’t have privileged information. From Luiz Henrique, it was pure luck, man. It’s one in a million.”
The FA was reportedly unaware of Tolentino’s involvement until these recent revelations, according to The Sun. However, the governing body is now broadening the scope of its investigation.
Paqueta is yet to face a formal hearing, but a three-person independent commission is expected to handle the case once the FA completes its findings. If found guilty, the West Ham star could face a lifetime ban from professional football.