West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been charged by the English Football Association for alleged breach of betting rules.
Paqueta, according to the FA’s reports, reportedly sought to influence four matches between November 2022 and August 2023, earning yellow cards in each game.
“It’s alleged that (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,” the FA said via a statement released Thursday.
The 26-year-old has also been charged with two additional breaches of FA rules concerning “alleged failures to comply.”
In response to the charges, the midfielder released a statement via his social media channels, denying the allegations following the ongoing investigation.
“I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me,” Paqueta said via statement. “For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can. I deny the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name. Due to the ongoing process, I will not be providing any further comment.”
According to the FA’s release, Paqueta will have until June 3 to formally respond to the allegations. Per the Associated Press, it remains uncertain as to whether Paqueta himself has been accused of placing bets, particularly on himself.
In the meantime, West Ham, who signed Paqueta back in August 2022 to an undisclosed club record fee, also released a statement expressing their backing for their star.
"The club will continue to stand by and support the player throughout the process and will make no further comment until the matter is concluded," they said.
Betting charges mounting in English, European Football
News of the ongoing investigation on Paqueta for potentially violating betting rules dates back to an initial ESPN report from August 2023. At the time, Paqueta was held out from 2026 World Cup qualifiers as a result, despite serving as an important part of Brazil’s 2022 World Cup side.
"It's a matter of preservation, of letting him resolve these issues, which go beyond football and keeping him at ease to work on this matter. This is a situation (illegal betting) that we also have here in Brazil and it takes time for things to settle down and clarify," former Brazil interim gaffer Fernando Diniz said at a press conference at the time.
As for Paqueta’s future, the charges could have wide-ranging implications for what was expected to potentially be a significant summer for the midfielder.
The scandal’s initial break put a damper on a proposed move to Manchester City, and though initial reports indicated that The Blues could have renewed interest, that now seems unlikely given the lengthy ban that could follow for Paqueta.
The charges against West Ham’s midfielder are by no means isolated either in the broader scope of English and European football. In just the EPL alone, Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Newcastle’s Sando Tonali have faced bans in recent months, while in Italy, Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli has also been slapped with punishments following gambling violations.
