The Brazilian Football Association (CBF) has confirmed that Lucas Paqueta will continue to be a part of Brazil’s Copa America squad, despite facing charges from the English Football Association (FA) regarding alleged breaches of betting rules. The FA had initiated an investigation last August into suspicious betting activity surrounding Paqueta, and the West Ham midfielder had been cooperating with the probe since March.
The charges against Paqueta claim that he intentionally sought to receive a card in four different Premier League matches, three from the 2022-23 season and one from the opening matchday of the 2023-24 season. Paqueta has until June 3 to respond to these charges and has taken to social media to deny them, stating that he will fight to clear his name.
Following discussions between the CBF and the FA, it has been decided that Paqueta will remain in the national squad for the upcoming Copa America tournament. The CBF released a statement, saying, “Given the facts reported by the English Federation, the CBF, supported by the joint opinion from the Legal and Governance and Compliance Directorates and the Integrity Unit, has decided to maintain the player’s call-up.”
The statement further explains that although the FA provided information about the charges, Paqueta has not yet been penalized by the relevant authority. Therefore, he is free to continue his professional career without any restrictions. The CBF emphasized that Paqueta’s livelihood and that of his family depend on his ability to perform his job for both his club and the national team.
Brazil, who have won the Copa America nine times, will begin their campaign against Costa Rica in Group D on June 24.
