Lucas Paqueta ESCAPES lifetime ban as West Ham star learns fate in betting charges probe
RETURN OF THE PAQ Lucas Paqueta ESCAPES lifetime ban as West Ham star learns fate in betting charges probe
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
LUCAS PAQUETA has ESCAPED a lifetime ban from football after learning the fate of his betting probe.
The West Ham star has played for two years while allegations of being deliberately yellow carded hung over his head.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
Lucas Paqueta has escaped a lifetime ban after his betting probe
Credit: Getty
2
He netted for West Ham last night against Everton
Credit: Getty
It was alleged that Paqueta picked up bookings on four separate occasions between November 2022 to August 2023 amid suspicious betting patterns being flagged.
A guilty verdict could have seen the 27-year-old slapped with a lifetime ban from football.
However, West Ham have now confirmed that the Brazilian has been CLEARED.
A statement read: "West Ham United can confirm that an independent Regulatory Commission has cleared Lucas Paquetá of misconduct charges made against him by the Football Association for alleged breaches of FA rule E5.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
SARR BLIMEY Spurs star Pape Matar Sarr lobs Arsenal's David Raya 'playing as a centre back'
"The club has stood by Lucas since the very start of a long and difficult process."
Paqueta has thanked all those who supported him throughout the process.
He said: "Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations.
"I can't say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.
"To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me - thank you for everything.'
Paqueta already appeared to have the weight lifted from his shoulders in West Ham's 2-1 pre-season win over Everton.
He poked home the Hammers' equaliser during the Premier League Summer Series clash.
The former Lyon man celebrated the goal, pointing up to the sky and shared a picture of the moment on Instagram with the caption "God" and a love heart emoji.
Idrissa Gueye netted the Toffees' opener before Paqueta's goal which was followed by a winner by Niklas Fullkrug.
More to follow...
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
7 minutes ago
- Metro
Children left in pools of blood after knifeman rampages through school in Hunan,
A knifeman went on a rampage at a primary school in southern China, leaving children on the floor in pools of blood. Video footage showed locals surrounding a girl lying on the road bleeding. Local reports said two people had been killed and another three injured in the attack, which occurred at 6pm local time on Sunday at the Jinnan primary school in the city of Leiyang in Hunan province. Another clip showed a child wrapped in cloth on the street as an ambulance attended the scene. The three injured people were taken to hospital for treatment. A 31-year-old man has now been arrested by police in connection with the stabbings. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A spokesperson for Leiyang City Police said: 'At 6pm on Sunday August 3 a deliberate attack was carried out on Caizichi Street. Two people were killed and injured. More Trending 'Following the event, the public safety department swiftly dispatched officers to take control, capturing and bringing to justice the suspected criminal. 'The injured people were sent to hospital to be treated and taken out of danger.' The force added that it was undertaking an investigation and prosecution. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: How 8.8-magnitude earthquake and tsunamis are causing major flight disruption worldwide MORE: Map shows where tsunami warnings are in place after 8.8-magnitude earthquake MORE: One of the world's highest volcanos erupts after 8.8-magnitude quake
Metro
7 minutes ago
- Metro
Daredevil scales Copenhagen's tallest hotel before leaping from top
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A daredevil who reached peak infamy after leaping from the tip of The Shard has been at it again in Copenhagen. George King-Thompson, who goes by Shardclimber on Instagram, made the plunge off the Radisson Blu Scandinavia hotel in the Danish capital. The influencer said he previously attempted the feat in 2021, but came five metres short from the summit due to unscrewed vents. He ended up abandoning the dive and climbing down, before being arrested. Four years later, he successfully jumped off the tower in what he called a 'redemption'. The four-star hotel is located on the Stadsgraven canal. A clip of George undertaking his challenge at 5am showed him using metal vents to climb up the side of the skyscraper. After jumping off the edge, a red and black parachute bursts out of his bag just in the nick of time. He then landed safely in the car park. Describing the trepidation as he reached the tower's summit, he wrote: 'Leading up to this. Morale was low. There were thoughts and emotions. Thoughts which made me want to abort and fly back home. 'I knew I never would. 'Instead I lay in a field in my bivvy. In the rain. Patiently waiting for the weather to get good.' He continued: 'It is hard to see the significance of these kinds of moments in the present. It just feels torturous. Looking back… it's beautiful. It's the test. 'Eventually, the gods open up a weather window. The fear evaporates and I'm left cold and clinical.' More Trending George was previously handed a six-month sentence for taking his hobby to the top of the Shard in London. He ascended the 310-metre, 72-storey glass structure, without the aid of ropes or suction pads, in July 2019. The climb landed him in jail as it breached a court injunction sought by the tower's owners in 2018 to prevent a protest about the number of empty apartments in the landmark. Two years later, in 2021, he returned to London to mount two more skyscrapers within two weeks, the Stratosphere Tower and the 93-metre, 23-storey Unex Tower. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Prison officer 'had relationship with 17-year-old young offender inmate' MORE: I bought a £420,000 flat with a friend — and then we fell out MORE: 'Ring of steel' erected after far-right protestors clash outside migrant hotel
Metro
7 minutes ago
- Metro
Antony rejects third transfer offer to leave Manchester United
Antony has rejected a third offer to leave Manchester United as he holds out for a move to Real Betis. The Brazilian forward enjoyed a much-needed revival at Betis after being loaned out by United in January. Manchester United spent £82m to sign Antony from Ajax in 2022 but are trying to sell him just three years later. The 25-year-old regarded as one of the biggest transfer flops in Premier League history, scored five league goals across his first two seasons at Old Trafford. Given his recent struggles, United fans were surprised to see Antony thrive at Real Betis, where he scored nine goals and helped Manuel Pellegrini's side reach the Conference League final. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Pellegrini has instructed Betis to bring Antony back to the club on a permanent transfer but the deal is not straightforward given the numbers involved. Manchester United want around £30m for Antony and the Brazil international is on a huge salary worth more than £4m-a-year. Despite the difficulty in signing Antony, Real Betis are expected to approach United with a new offer in the coming days. Spanish outlet Sport say Antony is desperate to return to Sevilla and is 'unwilling' to join any club other than Betis. As a result Antony is 'refusing to listen' to a lucrative transfer approach from the Saudi Pro League and has instead indicated he will take a pay-cut to return to Real Betis. Antony, Real Betis Jadon Sancho, Juventus Alejandro Garnacho, Chelsea Tyrell Malacia, Saudi Arabia Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr have expressed interest in signing Antony but the winger has his heart set on Betis. According to reports, Antony has already rejected approaches from Brazilian clubs Botafogo and Sao Paulo as he wants to remain in Europe. Given his desire to sign for Betis, Antony is prepared to wait until the last couple of weeks of the transfer window when he hopes the La Liga side will reach an agreement with Manchester United. More Trending Antony is one of a number of players Ruben Amorim is hoping to offload before the summer transfer deadline. The Red Devils, who have signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer, have also put Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho up for sale. The sales of several unwanted players would not only trim Amorim's squadbut increase the club's transfer kitty as they consider a bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. Manchester United, who start the new season on August 17 against Arsenal, are also interested in signing a new goalkeeper to compete with Andre Onana. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Enzo Maresca makes shock U-turn and tries to block Chelsea transfer MORE: James Maddison update after Tottenham star suffers 'brutal' injury MORE: Ian Wright's dream Arsenal signing announces he wants summer transfer
