Zona de Azar Brazil – Senate: “Paquetá Should be Removed from the Brazilian Team”

Brazil.- June 28, 2024  www.zonadeazar.com Senator Jorge Kajuru, who chairs the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on Sports Betting, proposed that player Lucas Paquetá be temporarily excluded from Brazil’s national football team. This measure is a response to suspicions that Paquetá may be involved in match-fixing activities.

Lucas Paquetá, who was called up to represent Brazil at the Copa América, is under investigation following allegations that he intentionally received yellow cards during English Premier League matches.

On June 18, an invitation was made to Lucas Paquetá to give testimony before the Sports Betting CPI. As this is just an invitation, and not a formal summons, there is no obligation for him to be present.

Senator Kajuru declared that the Brazilian team should suspend Paquetá until he proves his innocence or guilt in the match-fixing scandal in the United Kingdom, highlighting that he is a player of high economic value in the team.

Kajuru further emphasized that any player or referee found to be involved in match-fixing must be permanently removed from football. The severe stance adopted by the CPI president highlights the seriousness of the accusations and the commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport.

Lucas Paquetá case

West Ham player and midfielder Lucas Paquetá is being accused of intentionally receiving four yellow cards during Premier League matches in an alleged scheme to benefit punters. According to information from The Sun, the English Football Association is considering imposing a ban on the athlete, if the accusations are proven.

As an important player for the Brazilian national team, the accusations against Paquetá could deeply affect the team. The investigation is still ongoing, and Paquetá’s future in the national team is uncertain.

According to Kajuru, excluding Paquetá from the national team would be a significant measure to demonstrate that Brazilian football repudiates illicit behavior.

Last Wednesday (26), the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced a decrease in cases of suspected manipulation in Brazilian football. Comparing the period from January to June 2023 with the same interval in 2024, there was a 67% drop in games under suspicion.

Focusing specifically on games managed by the CBF, the reduction was even more pronounced, with a decrease of 92.8%, from 14 suspected cases to just one.

Edit: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com