Reported in May 2024 for betting-related misconduct, Lucas Paquetá will have his future decided in March. According to Sky Sports, the West Ham midfielder will face a trial that will last around three weeks.
In an official statement released by the English Football Association (FA) in May last year, Paquetá was accused of violating the rules of conduct in sports betting.
The charges relate to games against Leicester City (12 November 2022), Aston Villa (12 March 2023), Leeds United (21 May 2023) and Bournemouth (12 August 2023). The player was booked in all of those clashes.
According to Sky Sports, the FA will request Paquetá’s ban from football. Immediately after the complaint, on May 23, the player spoke out on his social media, denying the accusations.
Lucas Paquetá said: “I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me. I have cooperated with every stage of the investigation and provided all the information I could during these nine months.
I deny the allegations in their entirety and will fight with all my might to clear my name. Due to the ongoing litigation, I will not be providing any further comment.”
Risk of ban
Further information from the FA indicates that the Brazilian has been charged with four breaches of Rule E5.1. This rule states that a player “shall not, directly or indirectly, attempt to influence for any improper purpose the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect or occurrence in or in connection with a game or competition.”
The organization’s documentation further explains that betting offenses are distinct from match-fixing charges. However, when a bet affects the outcome or course of a match, the charge is specific. A player found to have interfered with the outcome of a match can be banned permanently.
FA allegations against Lucas Paquetá and other offences
The FA alleges that Paquetá “sought to directly influence the progress, conduct or any other aspect or occurrence of those matches by intentionally seeking 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 betting.”
Although the FA’s disciplinary rules book does not specify sanctions for breaches of Rule E5.1, insider trading can result in suspensions ranging from six months to a lifetime ban, as well as fines.
The FA’s regulatory commission will assess whether Paqueta provided information and assistance to authorities. This could mitigate a possible penalty. The federation found that the Brazilian committed two breaches of Rule F3, which constituted misconduct in answering questions and providing documents.
