Brazilian footballer Lucas Paqueta is in danger of a lifetime ban after being involved in a betting scandal. Earlier this year, England's Football Association (FA) launched an investigation into allegations of spot-fixing. An investigation has been started against him in Brazil on the same charge.
He has been summoned by a Brazilian parliamentary commission as part of an investigation. And the FA will start hearing about Paketa next March.
Paketa, who plays for English club West Ham, has been accused of looking at cards to help gamblers in football. The English FA said in their complaint that Paketa intentionally saw cards in West Ham's matches against Leicester City on November 12, 2022, Aston Villa on March 12, 2023, Leeds United on May 21 and Bournemouth on August 12.
Why did Paketa? Paketa and his friends took part in betting on the matches. That crime is to be profitable there.
Paketa denied all the charges and declared himself innocent. However, within the complaint of the FA, an investigation has been started against Paketa's country, Brazil.
Paketra was due to give evidence this week to Sao Paulo's Commission of Investigation (CPI) on match-fixing as part of an investigation into illegal betting. But the 27-year-old footballer's legal team postponed it.
The British media "Sun" reported that Paketa will not be able to play West Ham's match against Leicester City on December 3. Because, according to last Wednesday's instructions, Paketa must submit evidence to the Brazilian Parliamentary Commission in the first week of December.
British media Mail Online reported that about 60 people, including some members of Paketa's family, saw the cards and bet between 7 and 400 pounds on his match. Through this they have earned around 1 lakh pounds.
If these allegations of betting are proved, Paketa can be banned for life by the FA.