Brazil legend Romario demands ‘cards for cash’ probe against Paqueta uncle

Former Brazil World Cup winner Romario, now an anti-corruption lawmaker, on Tuesday demanded an investigation into an alleged ‘cards for cash’ scandal involving the uncle of West Ham star Lucas Paqueta.

Romario, a senator in the country’s upper house, is the man behind a parliamentary commission report into betting patterns in football

According to the document Paqueta’s uncle, Bruno Tolentino is on a list of suspicious gamblers.

He is suspected of making money from bets on cards received by his nephew and another Brazil player Luiz Henrique when he played at Spanish club Real Betis.

“The eyes of our society can’t be turned away,” Romario, a 1994 World Cup winner, said.

The report says the commission has seen bank documents showing Tolentino allegedly paying Henrique 30,000 reais ($5,200) in February 2023 to arrange for him to receive a yellow card in a Liga match against Villarreal.

On the same day of that match, Paqueta also received a yellow card in a Premier League match against Aston Villa.

The two players have protested their innocence, and had been asked to testify before the commission, but failed to appear.

Earlier this month, reports in Britain claimed 27-year-old Paqueta was facing a Football Association hearing into alleged spot-fixing.

Paqueta is said to have deliberately got himself booked four times in Premier League matches for betting purposes.

The FA is reported to be pushing for a lifetime ban for Paqueta if he is found guilty.