The uncle of West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá is reportedly under investigation as a potential key figure in betting controversies involving the Paquetá family across Europe and South America.
This allegation surfaced yesterday through TalkSport Brazil correspondent Tim Vickery, who discussed the ongoing scrutiny within Brazil’s parliamentary inquiry into sports betting. Vickery is a regular contributor on TalkSport and claimed a member of Paqueta’s family was suspected by some to be a ring leader.
Bruno Tolentino, Paquetá’s uncle, is actively seeking to avoid a mandatory appearance before the Brazilian hearing, claiming that any summons would violate constitutional rights. Despite this, he may still face a subpoena, compelling him to testify and possibly resulting in legal repercussions.
If summoned, Tolentino’s attendance is anticipated to shift from voluntary to compulsory, heightening the potential for serious sanctions.
Although Tolentino maintains his innocence, reports suggest he has admitted to profiting from one of Paquetá’s yellow cards in a West Ham match, yet denies any prior knowledge of the timing of the booking. He is also accused of transferring funds to Botafogo’s Luiz Henrique in early 2023, following Henrique’s yellow card events while playing for Real Betis in Spain.
Originally scheduled to attend the hearing via video link yesterday, Paquetá’s appearance was postponed after his legal team argued it could unfairly influence the Football Association’s ongoing inquiry. The FA investigation began when West Ham sponsor Betway flagged unusual betting activity in Paquetá’s home region of Paquetá Island, coinciding with three occasions where Paquetá received yellow cards in West Ham matches.
