The English FA are reportedly set to ban Lucas Paqueta from football for life if he is found guilty of sport-fixing.
The English football’s governing body slammed charges on the Brazil international for intentionally receiving yellow cards in four matches to influence the betting market.
He was spotlighted first during Bournemouth match in August 2023 before being also indicted for doing the same in Leicester City, Aston Villa, and Leeds United matches.
The FA claims Paqueta, deliberately committed fouls to receive the cards to get the better of bookmakers.
Paqueta has denied the charges, insisting he is innocent. Taking to social media, the West Ham star blasted the FA for making unfounded claims. He disputed the body’s claim that he refused to cooperate during investigations into the incident. Defending himself, Paqueta said he had cooperated right from the onset of the investigation and had never kept the investigators in the dark.
His club West Ham also reacted to the allegations, confirming they would support the player, having asserted his innocence.
Meanwhile, Futballnews understands the club’s £80m-worth agreement with Manchester City for the 24-year-old has stalled with City monitoring development on the charges.
The projections are the Premier League champions will back off from the move if Paqueta is indicted.
As the integrity row between Paqueta and the FA rages, reports emerged the player did not want to play one of the matches (the Bournemouth match) for which he was indicted.
He was reportedly injured ahead of the match and was pushing to be excluded from the lineup but the club hierarchy intervened. Former West Ham United manager David Moyes is said to have wanted to sub off the player as he grappled with his fitness towards the end of the game before he saw the yellow.
The case will be referred to the independent commission for adjudication with Paqueta expected to make a case for his innocence.
Now, according to The Sun, the FA have suggested a life ban for the player as part of their penalty recommendations to the commission. This means the Brazilian footballer could be banned for life from football if he is found guilty. However, such judgment will be subjected to the discretion of the Independent Commission.
