Romario Demands Senate Inquiry into Betting Scandal Tied to Paquetá Family

Romario, a former World Cup champion with Brazil and now a prominent anti-corruption legislator, has called for an investigation into a purported ‘cards for cash’ scandal involving the uncle of West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá.

The senator, who represents Brazil’s upper house, has spearheaded a parliamentary commission report examining betting trends within football.

The report indicates that Paquetá’s uncle, Bruno Tolentino, is included in a list of individuals involved in suspicious gambling activities. He is believed to have profited from wagers related to cards issued to his nephew and fellow Brazilian player, Luiz Henrique, during their time at Spanish club Real Betis.

“Our society cannot simply look the other way,” stated Romario, who lifted the World Cup in 1994.

According to the findings, the commission has reviewed financial documents which suggest that Tolentino allegedly paid Henrique 30,000 reais (approximately £4,000) in February 2023 to influence the issuance of a yellow card during a La Liga match against Villarreal.

Interestingly, on the same day, Paquetá also received a yellow card in a Premier League fixture against Aston Villa.

Both players have denied any wrongdoing and were summoned to testify before the commission but did not attend.

Earlier this month, UK reports suggested that the 27-year-old Paquetá is facing a hearing with the Football Association regarding accusations of spot-fixing.

It has been alleged that Paquetá deliberately incurred bookings four times in Premier League matches for the purpose of betting. Should he be found guilty, the FA is reportedly seeking a lifetime ban.