By rikififi90 
The Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on Match-Fixing and Sports Betting in the Federal Senate has intensified its investigation into possible fraud involving players Lucas Paquetá, from West Ham, and Luiz Henrique, currently at Zenit. Both are suspected of participating in a scheme to manipulate yellow cards in international and national competitions, with bets placed on illegal platforms. The case gained prominence after the analysis of financial transactions and betting records that indicate possible involvement of family members and intermediaries. Paquetá’s defense attempted to postpone the athlete’s testimony in Brazil until the English Football Association (FA) makes its decision, which could result in the midfielder being banned from professional football. Luiz Henrique, in turn, became a target of the investigation after receiving a suspicious bank transfer following a match in which he was booked.
The CPI extended its activities by 45 days to deepen the collection of evidence and try to obtain testimonies from the players, who may clarify details about the relationship between sports betting and match-fixing. The main line of investigation revolves around a supposed scheme in which athletes deliberately received disciplinary punishments to benefit pre-informed bettors. Reports obtained by the commission show a significant financial flow directly linking the players to intermediaries involved in manipulation.
Investigations indicate that card manipulation has been happening for years, but only now are those involved being formally investigated. The CPI is also considering implementing measures to prevent new fraud, strengthening the oversight of sports betting in Brazil, and increasing penalties for those involved in fraudulent schemes.
Com mais tempo, CPI vai voltar a mirar em Paquetá e Luiz Henrique
https://t.co/Mptvd9Zl1o— VEJA (@VEJA) February 17, 2025
Suspicion Over Lucas Paquetá and Yellow Cards in the Premier League
Midfielder Lucas Paquetá, a West Ham player and regular member of the Brazilian national team, is at the center of the investigation after records indicated that he allegedly forced yellow cards in several Premier League matches. The CPI is investigating four specific games: against Leicester City, Leeds United, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth. The data analyzed reveals that in all cases, significant bets were placed on markets involving yellow cards received by the player, and the winnings from these bets were directed to people connected to him.
Among those involved in the scheme is Bruno Tolentino, Lucas Paquetá’s uncle, who appears as one of the main beneficiaries of the suspicious bets. According to CPI reports, Tolentino moved more than R$839,000 in bets, with part of that amount resulting from the warnings received by the player on the field. Additionally, Tolentino made more than 258 bank transactions with values considered incompatible with his declared income.
Paquetá’s defense argues that there is no proof that the player manipulated the yellow cards and claims that he is being judged by the English Federation, which could determine his suspension from football. However, the CPI aims to advance the investigation, which could lead the case to the criminal sphere in Brazil.
Luiz Henrique’s Connection to Suspicious Financial Transactions
Luiz Henrique, a forward who played for Botafogo and now plays for Zenit, Russia, also became a target of the CPI. Suspicion arose when the commission identified a payment of R$30,000 made by Bruno Tolentino to the player shortly after a match in which he received a yellow card. This payment raises the hypothesis that Henrique was involved in the same scheme under investigation in Paquetá’s case, deliberately forcing disciplinary warnings on the field to favor bettors.
During his time at Real Betis in Spain, Luiz Henrique received yellow cards under suspicious circumstances, one of them in February 2023. The CPI identified that, shortly after this warning, there was an unusual bank transaction involving intermediaries linked to sports betting. Investigators believe these findings reinforce the connection between the player and the scheme.
William Rogatto’s Role in the Scheme and His Arrest by Interpol
One of the main targets of the CPI is William Rogatto, known in the betting world as the “King of Relegation.” Rogatto has already confessed to manipulating match results and is identified as one of those responsible for fraudulently relegating 42 football clubs in Brazil, accumulating around R$300 million in illicit gains. Arrested by Interpol in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, he is awaiting extradition to Brazil and may be a key witness for the CPI by providing evidence about the structure of illegal betting schemes.
The commission believes that Rogatto’s testimony could reveal detailed information about the involvement of players, bettors, and intermediaries in the sports betting market. CPI President Senator Jorge Kajuru stated that Rogatto promised to deliver documents and digital records that could prove the participation of other athletes and football agents.
Penalties for Fraud in Sports Betting
The CPI report proposes strict measures to combat match-fixing in football, including:
- Increasing penalties for crimes related to sports fraud, with sanctions ranging from two to six years in prison.
- Creating advanced monitoring mechanisms, such as partnerships with betting companies to track suspicious patterns.
- Stronger oversight of financial transactions involving players and their families, preventing intermediaries from being used to conceal illicit gains.
- Banning professional players from participating in sports betting directly or through third parties.
These measures aim to protect the integrity of the sport and reduce the vulnerability of Brazilian football to fraudulent schemes.
The Impact of the Scandal on Brazilian and International Football
The revelation of the alleged scheme has shaken the credibility of Brazilian football and directly affected the players involved. Lucas Paquetá could face severe penalties, including a possible contract termination with West Ham and removal from the Brazilian national team. Luiz Henrique, in turn, may see his career damaged if his involvement in the fraud is confirmed. The episode has also raised concerns among sports authorities, who are seeking to implement new regulations to prevent similar situations in the future.
Match-fixing is not a problem exclusive to Brazil. In several countries, athletes and intermediaries have been caught in similar schemes. In Italy, for example, the “Calciopoli” scandal led to Juventus being relegated and resulted in severe punishments for clubs and officials. In Spain, a case involving suspicious betting in La Liga also led to investigations into manipulated matches.
Preventive Measures to Avoid New Scandals
Given the rise of sports betting, experts suggest several measures to prevent new cases of manipulation, such as:
- Continuous monitoring of suspicious betting patterns.
- Stricter oversight of financial transactions involving players and their families.
- Creating an independent agency to regulate sports betting in Brazil.
- Immediate punishment for players and intermediaries caught in suspicious activities.
The CPI on Sports Betting continues to deepen its investigations and seeks to hold all those involved in the scheme accountable. New revelations are expected in the coming weeks, potentially altering the landscape of national and international football.
The Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on Match-Fixing and Sports Betting in the Federal Senate has intensified its investigation into possible fraud involving players Lucas Paquetá, from West Ham, and Luiz Henrique, currently at Zenit. Both are suspected of participating in a scheme to manipulate yellow cards in international and national competitions, with bets placed on illegal platforms. The case gained prominence after the analysis of financial transactions and betting records that indicate possible involvement of family members and intermediaries. Paquetá’s defense attempted to postpone the athlete’s testimony in Brazil until the English Football Association (FA) makes its decision, which could result in the midfielder being banned from professional football. Luiz Henrique, in turn, became a target of the investigation after receiving a suspicious bank transfer following a match in which he was booked.
The CPI extended its activities by 45 days to deepen the collection of evidence and try to obtain testimonies from the players, who may clarify details about the relationship between sports betting and match-fixing. The main line of investigation revolves around a supposed scheme in which athletes deliberately received disciplinary punishments to benefit pre-informed bettors. Reports obtained by the commission show a significant financial flow directly linking the players to intermediaries involved in manipulation.
Investigations indicate that card manipulation has been happening for years, but only now are those involved being formally investigated. The CPI is also considering implementing measures to prevent new fraud, strengthening the oversight of sports betting in Brazil, and increasing penalties for those involved in fraudulent schemes.
Com mais tempo, CPI vai voltar a mirar em Paquetá e Luiz Henrique
https://t.co/Mptvd9Zl1o— VEJA (@VEJA) February 17, 2025
Suspicion Over Lucas Paquetá and Yellow Cards in the Premier League
Midfielder Lucas Paquetá, a West Ham player and regular member of the Brazilian national team, is at the center of the investigation after records indicated that he allegedly forced yellow cards in several Premier League matches. The CPI is investigating four specific games: against Leicester City, Leeds United, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth. The data analyzed reveals that in all cases, significant bets were placed on markets involving yellow cards received by the player, and the winnings from these bets were directed to people connected to him.
Among those involved in the scheme is Bruno Tolentino, Lucas Paquetá’s uncle, who appears as one of the main beneficiaries of the suspicious bets. According to CPI reports, Tolentino moved more than R$839,000 in bets, with part of that amount resulting from the warnings received by the player on the field. Additionally, Tolentino made more than 258 bank transactions with values considered incompatible with his declared income.
Paquetá’s defense argues that there is no proof that the player manipulated the yellow cards and claims that he is being judged by the English Federation, which could determine his suspension from football. However, the CPI aims to advance the investigation, which could lead the case to the criminal sphere in Brazil.
Luiz Henrique’s Connection to Suspicious Financial Transactions
Luiz Henrique, a forward who played for Botafogo and now plays for Zenit, Russia, also became a target of the CPI. Suspicion arose when the commission identified a payment of R$30,000 made by Bruno Tolentino to the player shortly after a match in which he received a yellow card. This payment raises the hypothesis that Henrique was involved in the same scheme under investigation in Paquetá’s case, deliberately forcing disciplinary warnings on the field to favor bettors.
During his time at Real Betis in Spain, Luiz Henrique received yellow cards under suspicious circumstances, one of them in February 2023. The CPI identified that, shortly after this warning, there was an unusual bank transaction involving intermediaries linked to sports betting. Investigators believe these findings reinforce the connection between the player and the scheme.
William Rogatto’s Role in the Scheme and His Arrest by Interpol
One of the main targets of the CPI is William Rogatto, known in the betting world as the “King of Relegation.” Rogatto has already confessed to manipulating match results and is identified as one of those responsible for fraudulently relegating 42 football clubs in Brazil, accumulating around R$300 million in illicit gains. Arrested by Interpol in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, he is awaiting extradition to Brazil and may be a key witness for the CPI by providing evidence about the structure of illegal betting schemes.
The commission believes that Rogatto’s testimony could reveal detailed information about the involvement of players, bettors, and intermediaries in the sports betting market. CPI President Senator Jorge Kajuru stated that Rogatto promised to deliver documents and digital records that could prove the participation of other athletes and football agents.
Penalties for Fraud in Sports Betting
The CPI report proposes strict measures to combat match-fixing in football, including:
- Increasing penalties for crimes related to sports fraud, with sanctions ranging from two to six years in prison.
- Creating advanced monitoring mechanisms, such as partnerships with betting companies to track suspicious patterns.
- Stronger oversight of financial transactions involving players and their families, preventing intermediaries from being used to conceal illicit gains.
- Banning professional players from participating in sports betting directly or through third parties.
These measures aim to protect the integrity of the sport and reduce the vulnerability of Brazilian football to fraudulent schemes.
The Impact of the Scandal on Brazilian and International Football
The revelation of the alleged scheme has shaken the credibility of Brazilian football and directly affected the players involved. Lucas Paquetá could face severe penalties, including a possible contract termination with West Ham and removal from the Brazilian national team. Luiz Henrique, in turn, may see his career damaged if his involvement in the fraud is confirmed. The episode has also raised concerns among sports authorities, who are seeking to implement new regulations to prevent similar situations in the future.
Match-fixing is not a problem exclusive to Brazil. In several countries, athletes and intermediaries have been caught in similar schemes. In Italy, for example, the “Calciopoli” scandal led to Juventus being relegated and resulted in severe punishments for clubs and officials. In Spain, a case involving suspicious betting in La Liga also led to investigations into manipulated matches.
Preventive Measures to Avoid New Scandals
Given the rise of sports betting, experts suggest several measures to prevent new cases of manipulation, such as:
- Continuous monitoring of suspicious betting patterns.
- Stricter oversight of financial transactions involving players and their families.
- Creating an independent agency to regulate sports betting in Brazil.
- Immediate punishment for players and intermediaries caught in suspicious activities.
The CPI on Sports Betting continues to deepen its investigations and seeks to hold all those involved in the scheme accountable. New revelations are expected in the coming weeks, potentially altering the landscape of national and international football.
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