BREAKING NEWS: An Arsenal player faces the possibility of a lifetime ban as a result of an ongoing investigation.
A Premier League player, Lucas Paquetá, is at risk of receiving a lifetime ban following an investigation by the Football Association (FA) into alleged breaches of rules E5 and F3. Paquetá, a West Ham United midfielder, is under scrutiny for suspicious betting activities linked to four yellow cards he received during matches against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Leicester City.
The investigation began when it was discovered that an unusual number of bets were placed in Brazil, Paquetá’s home country, on him receiving yellow cards during these games. These bets, about 60 in total, ranged from £7 to £400, and the total winnings amounted to £100,000.
The allegations suggest that Paquetá may have deliberately gotten booked to influence these betting outcomes. However, Paquetá has denied any involvement in match-fixing and has cooperated with the FA, handing over his mobile phone for the investigation.
The FA retained Paquetá’s phone for approximately eight weeks, examining his call and message history, along with his bank records.
After the phone was returned to him, Paquetá reportedly replaced it with a new one and discarded the old device, complicating the investigation. This action led to further allegations of obstructing the investigation, resulting in additional charges under FA Rule F3 for aggravated breaches.
Despite these serious accusations, Paquetá has continued to play for West Ham United, even scoring in a recent 4-1 win against Ipswich Town. His hearing is scheduled for March, with a final resolution not expected until the summer.
While Paquetá is expected to remain eligible to play for the rest of the 2024/25 season, the FA considers the case particularly serious and is said to be pushing for a lifetime ban if the charges are proven.
Lucas Paquetá, the West Ham United midfielder, is facing serious allegations from the Football Association (FA) that could lead to a lifetime ban from football. The investigation focuses on potential breaches of FA rules E5 and F3 related to suspicious betting activities tied to the four yellow cards he received during matches against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Leicester City.
Concerns arose when an unusual number of bets—approximately 60, ranging from £7 to £400—were placed in Brazil, Paquetá’s home country, on him receiving yellow cards in these games. The total winnings from these bets amounted to £100,000, raising suspicions that Paquetá may have intentionally incurred bookings to influence betting outcomes.
Paquetá has denied any involvement in match-fixing and has cooperated with the FA by providing his mobile phone for investigation. However, after the FA retained the phone for around eight weeks and returned it, he reportedly replaced it with a new device, discarding the old one. This action has led to further allegations of obstructing the investigation, resulting in additional charges under FA Rule F3 for aggravated breaches.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Paquetá has continued to participate in matches for West Ham, scoring in a recent 4-1 victory against Ipswich Town. His hearing is scheduled for March, with a resolution expected in the summer. While he is likely to remain eligible to play throughout the 2024/25 season, the FA is treating the case as particularly serious and is pushing for a lifetime ban if the charges are substantiated.
