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West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been charged by the FA with four breaches of the Football Association’s (FA) betting rules.
The breaches are associated with his conduct in four of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures, namely against Leicester City on 12 November 2022, Aston Villa on 12 March 2023, Leeds United on 21 May 2023 and AFC Bournemouth on 12 August 2023.
It has been alleged that the Brazilian international intentionally tried to get booked by the referee in these fixtures, to affect the betting market for “one or more persons to profit from betting.”
Paqueta himself has responded to this news with a statement on his social media in which he said: “I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me. For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can.
“I deny the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name. Due to the ongoing process, I will not be providing any further comment.”
Paqueta has been given until 3 June 2024 to provide a response to these charges unless there is a request for an extension to this date, with the FA stating they will be making no further comment relating to these charges until the case has been concluded.
This news follows Sandro Tonali being sanctioned for misconduct in relation to the FA’s betting rules, which saw the Newcastle midfielder handed a suspended two-month suspension, as well as receiving a £20,000 ($25,427.10) fine and a warning.
