Lucas Paqueta could see his promising football career come to an end if found guilty of the FA’s betting charge, MySportDab reports.
On Thursday, May 23, the English FA slammed a four-count charge on the Brazil international for intentionally subjecting himself to bookings in 2022 and 2023 to influence betting markets.
The FA statement confirming the charge claims Paqueta subjected himself to the said bookings on four occasions during English top-flight games.
Apart from charging the player for sport-fixing, the FA also claimed Paqueta refused to cooperate with the FA during nine months of investigations into the incident.
Reacting to the charge, Paqueta lashed out at the FA for unfounded claims, refuting the body’s claims that he refused to cooperate during the investigations.
He also insisted he is innocent and will deploy all within his arsenal to come out unscathed from the allegations.
“I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me,’ Paqueta said in a statement on social media. ‘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,” he wrote on social media.
Paqueta’s employers, West Ham United, have also issued a statement expressing their solidarity with the player, having insisted he is innocent.
MySportDab understands West Ham have agreed on principle to sell Lucas Paqueta to Manchester City for £80m – a move that could be scuttled due to the betting charge.
Based on precedent, The Mail claims Lucas Paqueta could face as much as a 10-year ban from football if found guilty.
A similar fate (a 10-year-ban) befell former Reading defender Kynan Isaac who was charged with sport-fixing in 2021 after he intentionally subjected himself to booking in an FA Cup match.
Paqueta has been given until June 3, 2024, to make a case for his defense before an independent commission begins proceedings on the case.
