The long-running investigation into Lucas Paqueta’s alleged breach of the Football Association’s (FA) betting rules is set to heat up this month.
According to Sky Sports, the West Ham United midfielder will face a hearing that will last for three weeks, making it one of the most extensive cases in FA history.
The Brazilian international was charged last year following claims that he deliberately received yellow cards in Premier League matches against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth.
The FA alleges that these bookings were intended to manipulate betting markets, allowing either Paqueta or his associates to profit.
Paqueta has strongly denied all accusations and insists he’s determined to clear his name. Meanwhile, the FA is reportedly pushing for a lifetime ban if he’s found guilty, which highlights the severity of the case.
To make matters worse, additional charges were brought against the midfielder in October for alleged non-cooperation and obstruction of investigation.
Paqueta dismissed these claims and accused the media of misrepresenting the situation.
He also raised concerns about confidentiality breaches, claiming that the leaked details that led to the additional charges jeopardised his chances of receiving a fair hearing.
He has since demanded an FA investigation into how such sensitive information reached the public.
Paqueta’s uncle, Bruno Tolentino, is also under investigation in Brazil after allegedly paying £5,000 to former Real Betis striker Luiz Henrique shortly after the player was booked twice.
This payment prompted authorities in Spain to launch their own probe, although both Tolentino and Henrique have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
The suspicions surrounding Paqueta’s case were initially raised by Betway, West Ham’s official shirt sponsor, which flagged irregular betting patterns.
These allegations started last August, and Paqueta’s footballing future has been shrouded in uncertainty since then.
The accusations denied him an £85 million move to Premier League champions Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola was eager to lure him to the Etihad Stadium, but the move fell apart when news of the investigation hit the media.
