Latest news with #PaquetaIsland
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Lucas Paqueta ‘set to be CLEARED of betting charges as FA faced with paying West Ham star's £1MILLION legal fees'
LUCAS PAQUETA is set to be cleared of spot-fixing charges, according to reports. The West Ham star has played for two years while allegations of being deliberately yellow carded were hanging over his head. 2 2 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. But reports from The Times claim Paqueta will be cleared of all charges. The FA are set to confirm their decision early next week. West Ham and Paqueta are said to be furious over how long it has taken to reach a verdict. The FA could now face having to cover the cost of the midfielder's legal fees, which is in the region of £1million. Shortly before the investigation became public, Manchester City had agreed an £85million deal to sign the former Lyon man from West Ham. But that move collapsed once City became aware of the allegations. An investigation was launched after suspicions betting patterns were identified originating from Paqueta Island in Brazil, where the player was born. Bets ranging from just £7 to £400 were placed on the four separate cards, in matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth. A total of £100,000 in winnings came from bets placed on the four bookings. West Ham's then shirt sponsor, Betway, as well as a number of other high-profile bookmakers, raised concerns after their automatic systems which monitor suspicious betting were triggered. After the nine-month FA probe, Paqueta was charged in May last year but did not face a hearing until March 2025, which finished following the end of the Premier League season. During the hearing, evidence was heard from former West Ham boss David Moyes. Paqueta's form has nosedived during the process, with the playmaker in tears on the pitch following a booking in a West Ham game versus Tottenham in May. Following that match, Paqeuta's wife released an emotional statement saying the family had been living through a "nightmare" for two years. Sources close to the player have revealed that the allegations have had a serious impact on Paqueta's mental well-being. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
West Ham fuming with FA as Lucas Paqueta spot-fixing case closes in on two years without a verdict
WEST HAM are furious Lucas Paqueta's spot- fixing case has been allowed to drag on into another season. The Hammers star, 27, will begin pre-season tomorrow with the cloud of a life-changing ban hanging over his head. 2 An FA investigation started in AUGUST 2023. The midfielder's hearing finally began in March this year and concluded last month. But both the player and West Ham are still awaiting a verdict. The case has taken an emotional toll on the Brazil international, who was reduced to tears following a yellow card against Tottenham in May. Paqueta was charged with four counts of spot-fixing in May last year after being accused of deliberately getting booked in Prem games. Bets across multiple bookies were traced back to Paqueta Island in Brazil where he grew up. Paqueta denies any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence. The FA investigation scuppered an £85million move to Manchester City in the summer of 2023. 2 And Paqueta's form has noticeably declined as the case rumbled on. At the end of last season, Hammers boss Graham Potter said: 'It's taken its toll on him.' Lyon man to raise funds.
