Lucas Paquetá, a player for West Ham and the Brazilian national team, will face a hearing in March due to accusations of match-fixing.
The English Football Association (FA) accused the 27-year-old athlete, in May 2024, of intentionally getting involved in situations in four matches to receive yellow cards.
Understand the case
The investigations point to irregularities in betting related to matches in which Paquetá participated, specifically against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth.
The case gained prominence after an investigation into suspicious betting on Paquetá Island, in Brazil. If found guilty, Paquetá could face a lifetime ban from football. In addition to his alleged involvement in manipulation, he also faces two charges for failing to cooperate with the investigation.
West Ham, Paquetá’s current club, expressed support for the player, who denies the accusations. However, there are concerns that these allegations are affecting his performance on the field. Coach Julen Lopetegui stated that Paquetá is dealing well with the situation, but admitted that he does not discuss the case directly with the player, focusing only on football.
Despite the club’s support, the impact of the accusations is evident. Paquetá underperformed at the end of last season and has yet to make a breakthrough under Lopetegui, scoring just one goal so far this season.
Details of the accusations against Lucas Paquetá
Specific accusations include a yellow card received in a game against Leicester, where Paquetá was punished for a tackle on Boubakary Soumare.
Another incident occurred in a match against Aston Villa where he fouled John McGinn.
Against Leeds, Paquetá was penalized for preventing a counterattack by bringing down Crysencio Summerville. Finally, in the match against Bournemouth, he received a card for touching his hand during an aerial challenge.
In short, the situation is delicate, and the outcome of the investigations and the hearing in March will be crucial for Paquetá’s future in football. At the moment, he is free to continue defending his club in the Premier League and wearing the Brazilian team‘s shirt.
