Lucas Paqueta has denied all four of the betting charges thrown at him by the Football Association (FA) – and has called upon the governing body to investigate what he describes as ‘misleading’ leaks about his case.
The West Ham playmaker has been accused of getting booked on purpose, on four separate occasions, to benefit an international betting ring.
But Paqueta claims that the allegations are untrue, and took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to hit out at media firms quoting an anonymous source close to the case.
— Lucas Paquetá (@LucasPaqueta97) October 17, 2024
Misleading and Inaccurate
The 27-year-old is accused of deliberately picking up a caution in three matches during the 2022/23 season, plus the Hammers’ first game of the 2023/24 campaign against Bournemouth.
After a suspicious number of bets were placed on Paqueta to be booked in those specific games – with many of the wagers emanating from Brazil, bookmakers and the FA joined forces to investigate.
After gathering evidence, the FA charged Paqueta of attempting 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.’
The player himself has always vehemently denied the charges, and has claimed to be cooperative with the FA and their investigation. However, Paqueta has also been charged with breaching Rule F3; namely, ‘to provide documents, information or any other material held in relation to a request by The Football Association.’
The 27-year-old has now turned to social media in a bid to flush out an unnamed source, who he claims is providing the media with ‘misleading’ leaked information.
“I am frustrated and upset to have read recent misleading and inaccurate press articles claiming to disclose information about my case,” Paqueta wrote.
“Some of that information is entirely false and appears designed to undermine my position.
“I am also concerned that, although they are false and misleading, these articles are clearly sourced from an individual close to the case.
“The continued leaking and publication of inaccurate information in the press is now putting at risk my chance of receiving a fair hearing.”
After instructing his lawyers to find out how his case has become played out in public, Paqueta continues to pull on the claret-and-blue shirt of West Ham. However, if he is found guilty of the charges brought against him, he can expect to be handed a lengthy ban from football.
Indeed, it has been reported that the FA wants to throw the book at him – with the possibility of a lifetime ban seemingly on the table.
Although the FA is understandably keeping details of the matter under wraps, it’s thought that Paqueta will be asked to attend a hearing later this month as his case continues to develop.
A Family Affair
The FA has taken a dim view on Paqueta’s behaviour on the pitch – and you can hardly blame the organisation, given the history that has recently come to light about some members of the Brazilian’s immediate family.
In September, both Paqueta’s uncle and cousin admitted paying a Brazilian player, Luiz Henrique, £5,000 to pick up a pair of bookings while he was playing for Real Betis in Spain’s La Liga last season.
That sparked an integrity probe in Spain, during which Paqueta’s uncle –Bruno Tolentino – admitted to paying Henrique the sum of money, while personally profiting by betting on the winger to be cautioned.
He did, however, claim that he was simply repaying money that Henrique had previously lent him, and that the winning bets were a mere coincidence.
In the case of Paqueta, Betway – who also happen to be West Ham’s front-of-shirt sponsor – triggered an alarm after spotting suspicious betting patterns regarding the winger.
A flurry of bets from 60 different accounts, many of them newly-opened in Brazil and Paqueta Island (where the player grew up), were placed on the West Ham man to be booked in the games in question.
According to media reports, the bets placed ranged in size from £7 right through to £400, and would have seen the punters in question profit to the tune of £100,000.
As per his WhoScored page, Paqueta has picked up 52 yellow cards and three red cards during his professional football career, which began with Brazilian club Flamengo back in 2017.
Of those, 20 of the cautions that Paqueta has received have come since joining West Ham in the 2022/23 season.