Lucas Paquetá has been suspended from playing for the Brazilian national team after picking up three yellow cards. The West Ham player was blasted by the Brazilian media last Friday after he received an early yellow card in the 3rd minute against Chile, prompting Brazil boss Dorival to substitute him before the second half.
Paquetá will now miss the next match against Peru due to suspension.
The 27-year-old will reportedly return to Brazil to attend a CPI hearing in the capital on Game Manipulation and Sports Betting on October 29th. The president of the CPI, Senator Jorge Kajuru, announced an official summons to the West Ham and Brazilian national team player, who will testify on the same day as influencer Deolane Bezerra, involved in another case.
Lucas Paquetá’s uncle, Bruno Tolentino, has been summoned to appear before a commission to answer questions. The national Assembly is probing allegations and suspicions of match manipulation in Brazilian football, specifically focusing on the sports betting market, and seeks explanations from Paquetá on the subject.
Paquetá will have his FA hearing next March where he faces the prospect of a life ban if found guilty of charges of match fixing. His advisors Roc Nation are thought to have employed the services of barrister Nick DeMarco KC who recently managed to defend Leicester City from Premier League charges.
The English FA is now charging him with two additional counts for allegedly obstructing the investigation by failing to cooperate. The FA confiscated Paquetá’s phone for two months last year as part of their investigation into his messages, calls and banking history.
Although the FA eventually returned the original phone, they later requested it back to verify additional details. However, Paquetá had said he had since disposed of it.
The outcome of the hearing is not expected to be delivered until the summer meaning Paquetá is likely to play for West Ham for the remainder of the season whatever the outcome of the tribunal.