Lucas Paqueta to miss West Ham clash as he's summoned to parliament over betting scandal

Lucas Paqueta is poised to miss West Ham's game with in December as he'll be facing a betting investigation in the Brazilian parliament.

The Hammers playmaker was due to give evidence to Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on the Manipulation of Games and Sports Betting in Sao Paolo this week, but his legal team succeeded in getting his appearance postponed.

Paqueta has to give evidence to Brazilian senators on December 3 as part of their investigation into illegal betting in Brazil despite the CPI ruling on Wednesday. The date coincides with heading to the King Power Stadium and the Brazilian accepts he'll be missing, reports .

Paqueta finds himself under investigation in Brazil after being charged by the FA earlier this year with four counts of spot-fixing. He is alleged to have deliberately got himself booked in four games to help bettors. The 27-year-old has maintained his innocence throughout and earlier this month hit out at the FA’s handling of the process, which he claims is no longer confidential.

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He said on social media: "I am frustrated and upset to have read recent misleading and inaccurate press articles, published in both England and Brazil, claiming to disclose information about my case," Paquetá said in a statement posted on social media.

"I am also concerned that, although they are false and misleading, these articles are clearly sourced from an individual close to the case. proceedings are supposed to be confidential.

"I have, therefore, instructed my lawyers to write to the FA to request that they conduct a thorough investigation into how information about the case, even if inaccurate, is finding its way into the public domain."

Paqueta has remained eligible to play for West Ham since learning of the charges but could be facing a lengthy ban if a breach is proven. It was reported in June that the FA are said to be pushing for a lifetime ban if West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is found guilty over alleged breaches of betting rules.

Paqueta’s uncle Bruno Tolentino is also being investigated in Brazil after he admitted paying the former Real Betis striker Luiz Henrique £5,000 just days after he landed himself two yellow cards which raised suspicion. The two cases are linked because the suspicious betting patterns were both reported to the authorities by online gambling company Betway, West Ham’s shirt sponsor.

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