West Ham United Footballer Lucas Paqueta Summoned for Match-Fixing Hearing
Senator Jorge Kajuru, Chairman of Brazil’s Sports Betting Parliamentary Investigation Committee (CPI), has confirmed the summons of West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta for a hearing regarding match-fixing allegations. The hearing is scheduled to take place at the end of October.
Allegations and Investigations
Senator Kajuru announced that Paqueta is required to testify concerning ongoing investigations into match-fixing. Since the midfielder currently resides outside Brazil, the hearing may proceed via video conference, allowing him to participate remotely. The summons follows a statement made last week by Kajuru.
The English Football Association (FA) charged Paqueta back in May with four breaches of its betting regulations. The charges allege that Paqueta deliberately attempted to receive yellow cards in four different Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023.
These actions were reportedly aimed at manipulating the betting market to financially benefit certain individuals. The FA’s allegations form part of a broader investigation into betting irregularities involving professional footballers.
Senator Kajuru’s Comments on the Case
Senator Kajuru expressed his disapproval of Paqueta’s continued presence in the Brazilian national team while under investigation. “I think it’s absurd, I think it’s abominable that the player Paqueta is still on the Brazilian national team, being called up, playing, when his name is being fully investigated,” he stated.
Kajuru also referenced statements made by William Rogatto, who allegedly confirmed Paqueta’s involvement and that of his family. “The evidence is strong. We even heard from William himself yesterday, who made it clear that Paqueta really did involve his family, isn’t that right? Now there’s more information from another player linked to him”, he added.
The outcome of the hearing could have implications not only for Paqueta’s career but also for efforts to address match-fixing and corruption within professional football.
