The English FA are investigating more betting allegations involving the family of Brazilian football star Lucas Paqueta.
Reports indicate that Paqueta’s uncle and cousin, Bruno and Yan Tolentino, have admitted paying ex-Real Betis striker Luiz Henrique over £5000 for gambling reasons.
Eyebrows Raised Over Money Sent To Brazilian Footballer Luiz Henrique After He Received 2 Yellow Cards
They apparently paid the amount aforementioned to Henrique days after he received two suspicious yellow cards which forced an integrity probe in Spain.
The investigation into Henrique done by La Liga and the Spanish FA in 2023 was connected to the English FA’s investigation which led to Paqueta being charged with four counts of spot-fixing.
La Liga and the Spanish FA did not punish Luis Henrique for his actions, but the footballer was sold by Betis to Brazilian club Botafogo in the summer of 2024 for a fee of £18 million.
The integrity alerts regarding suspicious betting patterns surrounding the cautions Lucas Paqueta and Henrique received were both triggered by online gambling company Betway, who are the shirt sponsor of West Ham United.
Several of the strange bets on Paqueta that resulted in him being charged are understood to have been placed by members of his family.
I Have Won Money By Betting On Luiz Henrique – Lucas Paqueta’s Uncle Says
During an interview with Brazilian website UOL, Paqueta’s uncle Bruno Tolentino admitted making a bank payment to Henrique and winning money by betting on the matches the Brazilian was involved in.
However, Bruno denied being handed information about what to stake on before placing those bets.
Based on UOL, two bank transfers cumulatively £5500 were made from Bruno Tolentino to Luiz Henrique in January and February 2024.
The Uncle Of Lucas Paqueta Claims He Was Basically Paying Back Luiz Henrique The Money He Owed The Footballer
Bruno expressed during the interview that the money sent to Henrique, was basically funds he was owing the Brazilian footballer.
He said: “It was money that I owed him and I paid it. It was an agreement between us. It was money that I owed him and he had lent it to me.”
Lucas Paqueta’s uncle added that he and Luiz Henrique both reached an agreement for the money to be paid back and he did that when he had the money to pay the 23-year-old.
Bruno Tolentino also shared that he isn’t prohibited from betting, however, he just can’t have confidential information from Henrique.
The Brazilian said: “We agreed to pay it back and we did. When I had the money to pay it back, I paid it.
“I can play, I’m not prohibited. I just can’t have privileged information. From Luiz Henrique, it was pure luck, man. It’s one in a million.”
FA Unaware Of The Matter Until September 24, 2024
According to The Sun, the FA declined offering their assertions on the matter, but were believed to be unaware that Lucas Paqueta’s family were involved in betting until September 24, 2024.
It is understood that the Football Association are now x-raying the matter, with Paqueta yet to get a date for a disciplinary hearing that will be heard by a three-person independent commission.
The FA are still making efforts in putting necessary things in place before filing their case against the Brazil international.
Reports indicate that the FA are making moves to ensure that Lucas Paqueta is slammed with a life ban from football.
