West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta faces charges from the Football Association (FA) for allegedly receiving bookings intentionally to manipulate the betting market.
The charges pertain to a Premier League match against Leicester City on November 12, 2022, and three 2023 fixtures against Aston Villa on March 12, Leeds United on May 21, and Bournemouth on August 12.
Investigation and Allegations
The 26-year-old Brazilian international has been under investigation since last summer due to suspicious betting patterns. According to the FA, Paqueta allegedly sought to influence the matches by intentionally receiving a card from the referee, aiming to affect the betting market for financial gain.
The FA’s statement claims: “It’s alleged that he [Paqueta] directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.”
Paqueta, who transferred to West Ham from Lyon for an initial £36.5 million in August 2022, expressed his surprise and distress over the charges. “For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can. I deny all the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name,” he declared.
Additional Breaches
Paqueta also faces charges for “two breaches of FA Rule F3 in respect of alleged failures to comply pursuant to FA Rule F2,” related to providing information and documents.
West Ham’s Support
These charges coincided with West Ham’s announcement of Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach, following David Moyes’ departure. The club has pledged its support for Paqueta, stating: “The club will continue to stand by and support the player throughout the process.”
Deadlines and Potential Penalties
Paqueta, who has been selected for Brazil’s squad for the upcoming Copa America, has until June 3 to respond to the charge of “misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of FA Rules E5 and F3,” subject to any request for an extension.
Although each case is judged individually, Paqueta could face a lengthy ban if found guilty. This situation is reminiscent of the 2022 incident involving Stratford Town defender Kynan Isaac, who received a 10-year ban for spot-fixing during an FA Cup tie by deliberately getting booked as part of a betting scheme with friends.
Conclusion
Paqueta’s case remains under close scrutiny, with significant potential implications for his career. Both West Ham and Paqueta are steadfast in their positions, with Paqueta vehemently denying the allegations and committing to proving his innocence.
