A Brazilian parliamentary investigation into football betting allegations that West Ham star Lucas Paqueta deliberately accepted a yellow card as a birthday present for his brother.
Paqueta testified before a Senate committee in his home country this week.
However, despite being suspected of “deliberately fixing matches” by the commission, according to the commission’s 629-page report, he will not be prosecuted in the South American country.
The parliamentary investigation into the manipulation of games and sport in Brazil is a separate investigation into allegations by the Football Association against Paquta over four suspicious yellow cards.
The 27-year-old is accused of deliberately accepting yellow cards in four Premier League games against Leicester in 2022, as well as against Leeds United, Aston Villa and Bournemouth the following year.
Paqueta has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, with the midfielder set to face an FA hearing over the allegations next month.
If found guilty, Paqueta could face a lifetime ban from football.
According to evidence submitted in the Brazilian investigation, สนใจสมัคร? คลิกที่นี่เพื่อเริ่มต้น ‘Paqueta informed (to an intermediary named Marlon Bruno Nascimento Silva) that he would give his brother Matheus Paqueta a ‘birthday present’ – a yellow card for the match on March 12.’
On that day, West Ham hosted Aston Villa at the London Stadium and the game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Said Benrahma equalising from the penalty spot after Ollie Watkins had put Villa ahead.
Paqueta, who had started for the Hammers, was booked in the second half for an impulsive challenge on John McGinn.
The investigation confirmed that the game took place on Matheus Paqueta’s birthday.