The irony came in the shape of a third-minute yellow card, would you believe. That was the reason his coach had for hooking Lucas Paquetá at half time in Brazil’s 2-1 victory in their World Cup qualifiers against Chilé. His manager claimed that Paquetá was ‘compromised’ after receiving a caution and substituted at the interval. Brazil’s performance improved little after two changes were made at half time, according to media site oglobo.es.
The Brazilian site criticised his ‘silly passing errors’ and his lack of dynamism moving the ball forwards.
With the Brazilian Parliamentary Committee now bringing forward their enquiry into the allegations surrounding Paquetá’s ‘yellow cards betting scandal’ – now due at the end of this month, it could very well be that the 27 year old Hammer is playing his last representative games for his country. More charges – allegations only at this stage – have been added by the FA and calls are regularly published demanding a lifetime ban if Paquetá is found guilty.
Even if ultimately found innocent, it would not surprise me for Paquetá to find himself dropped from Brazil’s representative team ‘for the duration’ of the process, as the media spotlight lands squarely on him as soon as the various enquiries start in a matter of weeks.
Paquetá of course denies any wrong doing and refutes the allegations: If however the hearing by the parliamentary enquiry goes against him in Brazil, it is difficult to imagine him being selected for his national side, at least pending the English FA enquiry for March 2025. Very sad. Whatever your opinion of the player’s culpability.
Quite how he retains any sort of focus at present is difficult to imagine: Professing his innocence against all allegations and trying to give of his best whilst processes on both sides of the Atlantic line up to put him under intense scrutiny seems almost an impossible ask.