West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been charged by the Football Association
for allegedly getting booked deliberately “for the improper purpose of
affecting the betting market”.
The four charges relate to a Premier League game against Leicester City on 12
November in 2022, plus 2023 fixtures against Aston Villa on 12 March, Leeds
United on 21 May and Bournemouth on 12 August.
The 26-year-old Brazil international had been under investigation since last
summer over suspicious betting patterns.
An FA statement said: “It’s alleged that he [Paqueta] directly sought to
influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in
these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for
the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more
persons to profit from betting.”
Paqueta, who joined West Ham from Lyon for an initial £36.5m in August 2022,
said he was “extremely surprised and upset” by the charges.
“For nine months, I have co-operated with every step of their investigation
and provided all the information I can. I deny all the charges in their
entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name,” he added.
Paqueta has also been charged with “two breaches of FA Rule F3 in respect of
alleged failures to comply pursuant to FA Rule F2”, which relates to providing
information and documents.
The charges came on the same day the Hammers confirmed the appointment of
Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach following the departure of David
Moyes.
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