Brazilian football legend-turned-lawmaker Romario has called for an official investigation into an alleged “cards for cash” betting scandal involving the uncle of West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá.
Romario, a 1994 World Cup winner and now a senator, raised concerns after a parliamentary commission flagged suspicious betting patterns linked to Paquetá’s uncle, Bruno Tolentino. According to a report, Tolentino is suspected of profiting from bets placed on yellow cards received by both Paquetá and fellow Brazilian player Luiz Henrique, formerly of Real Betis.
“The eyes of our society can’t be turned away,” Romario declared, urging authorities to act.
Investigators claim to have uncovered bank records showing that Tolentino allegedly paid Henrique 30,000 reais ($5,200) in February 2023 to ensure he received a yellow card during a La Liga match against Villarreal. That same day, Paquetá was also booked in a Premier League match against Aston Villa.
Both players have denied any wrongdoing and previously refused to appear before the commission. Meanwhile, reports in the UK suggest the English Football Association (FA) is preparing to charge Paquetá for deliberately getting booked in four Premier League matches for betting-related purposes. If found guilty, he could face a lifetime ban from football.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through Brazilian football, with Romario leading the charge to expose potential corruption in the sport.
