The English Football Association (FA) is expected to announce its verdict on Friday (26) on match-fixing allegations involving midfielder Lucas Paquetá. The decision could define the course of the player’s career and directly affect West Ham‘s plans for the upcoming season.
Since August 2023, the FA has been conducting an investigation into the player’s alleged manipulation of cautions. The body accuses Paquetá of forcing yellow cards in four Premier League matches with the aim of influencing sports betting. If the committee finds him guilty, the player could be banned permanently from football.
The uncertainty has increased tension within the London club. The process has already caused losses exceeding £80 million, including the investment in the signing and the loss of the transfer to Manchester City, which was not completed. The failed sale also affected the English club’s financial planning.
Furthermore, the situation affected the player’s family; the athlete’s wife, Duda Fournier, commented on the emotional impact suffered by Paquetá.
“He cried on the pitch after the card, it was very tough. It affected his mental health, and the FA completely ignored that aspect,” he said.
The episode occurred during the clash between West Ham and Tottenham at the end of last season.
The club’s manager, Graham Potter, also expressed dissatisfaction. “We want a definition so we can plan the next transfer window with clarity,” the manager said.
Former leader believes in Paquetá’s acquittal
For former Everton CEO and current sports consultant for elite clubs, Keith Wyness, the trial will end with the player’s acquittal.
“My sources say the case is now closed and Paquetá will be acquitted,” Wyness told the Inside Track podcast on the English website “Football Insider.”
Remember the case involving Lucas Paquetá
Paquetá represents both West Ham and the Brazilian national team. According to the FA, he allegedly committed betting-related misconduct in four matches between November 2022 and August 2023. The matches involved were against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Bournemouth.
In 2024, the Federation alleged that the athlete attempted to “influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect or occurrence of these matches by intentionally attempting to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market so that one or more persons could profit from the bets.” Therefore, the body requests that the player be banned from the sport.
As revealed by The Guardian newspaper, the independent committee responsible for the hearing did not finalize the judgment due to the complexity of the case.
Furthermore, the commitments of the parties’ attorneys delayed the schedule, and the hearing could only resume in June. The case began on March 17th and was initially scheduled to conclude in three weeks.
Both Paquetá and the FA have already presented their arguments to the committee. However, both can still appeal the final decision if they disagree with the verdict.
