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Lucas Paqueta’s uncle facing SIX YEARS in jail if found guilty of match-fixing – as West Ham star awaits FA hearing
The Hammers star could yet be banned for LIFE from football
LUCAS PAQUETA's uncle is facing up to six years in prison in Brazil if found guilty of alleged match-fixing.
A Senate Commission report released on Tuesday called for criminal charges against Bruno Tolentino, the West Ham star's uncle, and two Brazilian businessmen.
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Paqueta gave evidence to the investigation, led by the Senate's Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI), but is not facing any further action.
The 27-year-old has been charged with four counts of spot-fixing by the FA however, with the disciplinary hearing to take place next month.
The Brazil case centres on allegations that Paqueta's uncle paid another Brazilian player, Luiz Henrique, for receiving yellow cards in two LaLiga games in January and February 2023.
Two payments of over £5000 were made after Henrique had been booked in two matches whilst playing for Real Betis, which sparked an integrity probe.
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The Henrique and Paqueta cases are linked as the suspicious betting patterns surrounding the bookings were both initially reported by online gambling company Betway, West Ham's shirt sponsor.
The CPI report concludes that Tolentino made the suspicious payments to Henrique "for his participation in manipulations".
The recommendation to charge is based on Article 199 of Brazil's General Sports Law for "giving or promising a financial or non-financial advantage with the purpose of altering or falsifying the result of a sports competition or event associated with it".
The recommended penalty is two to six years in prison and a fine.
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In another link to the English case, many of the suspicious bets on the four Paqueta bookings that led to him being charged are believed to have been placed by members of his family.
As SunSport revealed last June, the FA are pushing for Paqueta to be given a LIFE ban from football.
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Paqueta insists he is innocent, but the FA charge sheet includes a recommendation that he be banned for life if found guilty.
Paqueta is accused of deliberately getting booked in four Prem games — against Leicester in 2022, plus Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth, all in 2023 — to make money for friends.
Around 60 people placed bets on Paqueta to be booked in one or all of those matches.
The stakes ranged from just £7 to £400, leading to combined winnings of £100,000.
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