Midfielder Lucas Paqueta of West Ham, who was charged by the Football Association (FA) in England for violating betting regulations, has been included in the final squad of the Brazil national football team for the 2024 Copa America.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced the final squad for Copa America on June 17. A total of 26 players were selected for the national team, and Paqueta, who has been at the center of controversy, was among them. Last month, Paqueta stirred controversy with allegations of intentional fouls and betting violations. The FA charged him with “engaging in actions intended to directly influence the outcome of matches.”
The scenes the FA suspected involved four fouls recorded in November 2022 against Leicester City, March 2023 against Aston Villa, May against Leeds United, and August against Bournemouth.
Furthermore, last August, controversy arose when it was revealed that Paqueta’s cousin had placed bets on matches in which Paqueta participated. Despite the charges, Paqueta has not received any suspension penalties from his current club or the national team, making his participation in the Copa America possible.
Since his debut in an A-match in 2018, Paqueta has scored 10 goals in 46 matches. He participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, contributing to Brazil’s advancement to the quarterfinals. This will be his third appearance in the Copa America, following 2019 and 2021.
Brazil, aiming for their 10th overall victory in the Copa America, has been grouped with Colombia, Paraguay, and Costa Rica in Group D for this tournament.