The president of the CPI of Game Manipulation and Sports Betting, Jorge Kajuru, stated that the judicial investigation includes football players from the national team, although he refused to provide names.
Brazil.- The president of the Parliamentary Commission of Investigation (CPI) of Game Manipulation and Sports Betting, Jorge Kajuru, affirmed that the Public Ministry of Goiás has closed plea agreements with some of the investigated individuals, who provided evidence on the involvement of two players from the Brazilian team in the manipulation of results.
“The Justice already has all the material. It is a joint effort of the CPI with the Public Ministry of Goiás,” said the parliamentarian to the media Radar. However, he did not want to reveal the names of the athletes mentioned in the accusations.
For now, the only two players called up to represent the «Seleção» in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, whose names have already been mentioned in the CPI, are midfielder Lucas Paquetá, from West Ham, and forward Luiz Henrique, from Botafogo.
In early October, the investigative commission transformed the invitation that had been approved for Paquetá to testify into a summons, which legally imposes the obligation to appear before the panel on the scheduled date. The player's lawyers requested a postponement of the statement, initially scheduled for last Wednesday, arguing that the deadline for Paquetá to present his defense to the English Football Association (FA) runs until December.
If he had maintained his testimony on the original date, the senators would have risked the footballer remaining silent so as not to jeopardize his defense in the process he faces with the highest authority of football in England, the Football Association (FA).
See also: Why Paquetá's uncle refused to answer the CPI's questions
In a statement published on his social networks, Paquetá stated that he “continues to deny” the accusations of having forced yellow cards as part of a scheme to profit from sports betting and is “eager to prove his innocence”.
Luiz Henrique, from Botafogo, spoke on the matter and also distanced himself from the accusations. “They want to erase my shine, but I know they can't. God is with me, my family is with me and none of this is happening,” declared the forward.
