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West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá is reportedly facing additional charges from the Football Association (FA) in relation to their ongoing betting investigation. According to The Sun, the FA is now alleging that Paquetá obstructed their investigation by failing to cooperate, adding two more charges to his case.
The Brazilian player is scheduled for a hearing in March, but these new developments complicate matters further. Last year, as part of their investigation, the FA confiscated Paquetá’s mobile phone for a two-month period to examine his messages, calls, and banking history. During this time, Paquetá purchased a new device.
Although the FA eventually returned Paquetá’s original phone, they later requested it back to verify additional information. However, Paquetá claims he has since disposed of the phone and is unable to locate it, leading to the obstruction charges.
The initial allegations against Paquetá stem from the FA’s suspicion that he intentionally received yellow cards in matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth during the 2023/24 Premier League season. The FA believes this was done to allow Paquetá or his associates to profit from bets placed on him being booked. It’s important to note that Paquetá has consistently denied all allegations against him.
Reports indicate that approximately 60 individuals in Brazil placed bets ranging from £7 to £400 on Paquetá receiving yellow cards in these specific games. These bets allegedly resulted in total winnings of around £100,000.
While Paquetá’s hearing is set for March, the process of reaching a verdict could potentially extend into the summer months. This means that Paquetá will remain eligible to play for West Ham throughout the current season. However, if found guilty, he could face a lifetime ban from football.
When questioned about Paquetá’s situation, West Ham’s manager Julen Lopetegui maintained a focus on football matters, stating, “We don’t talk about that [the case], we talk about football. About the next match and about life, but not about that.”
This case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding betting in football and the severe consequences players can face if found to be involved in such activities. It also underscores the complexities of investigations into alleged betting-related offenses, particularly when it comes to player cooperation and evidence preservation.
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