Midfielder Lucas Paquetá could be banned from football forever. The Brazilian is being investigated for being involved in sports betting schemes during four English Championship matches (Leicester in 2022 and Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth in 2023). The FA (English Federation) wants to apply an extraordinary punishment to the player, making him no longer play, according to the English newspaper The Sun.
The new investigation against the 26-year-old player says that “Paquetá was deliberately warned for making his friends earn money”. The entity’s report indicates that up to 60 people bet on the duels in favor of the athlete’s yellow cards, generating profits estimated at more than 100 thousand euros. The bet values varied, between seven and 400 pounds, the document states, with several bets originating in Rio de Janeiro.
Since the English Federation announced that it would reopen the case, Paquetá has been at the entity’s disposal trying to cooperate and prove his innocence after requesting an extension to present arguments in his defense. The resolution of the case should not be given before six months.
Due to the investigation, Manchester City withdrew from signing Paquetá. There was a deal signed between the player, West Ham and the current Premier League champions, which was worth around 88 million euros, however, with the reopening of the case, the Citizens withdrew.
Paquetá is now focused on competing in the Copa América with the Brazilian team. After many conversations between CBF and the FA, the Brazilian entity decided to keep the player on the squad list for the tournament. The English Federation guaranteed that, at the moment, there is no injunction prohibiting the midfielder from playing.
The CBF informs that it became aware of the complaint filed by the English Football Federation (FA) against the athlete Lucas Paquetá, last Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Considering that the athlete was called up for the national team’s friendlies and for Copa América, the CBF… pic.twitter.com/BoBifeWIIg
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) May 30, 2024
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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