Lucas Paqueta Faces FA Charges Over Betting and Phone Breach

Lucas Paqueta, a player for West Ham United, is facing charges from the Football Association (FA) related to alleged betting infringements connected to four of his bookings. The FA’s investigation has reportedly led to new charges concerning his mobile phone, which could potentially result in a significant suspension.

The 27-year-old Brazilian international initially turned over his mobile phone to authorities when investigations began into suspicious betting patterns. These patterns were noted in games played against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth between November 2022 and August 2023.

Sunsport reported that Paqueta’s decision to discard his original phone, after receiving it back from investigators and purchasing a new handset, has resulted in additional charges. The FA alleges non-cooperation due to his inability to provide further access to his phone, thus charging him with two aggravated breaches in May.

Details of the charges include allegations that approximately 60 individuals from Brazil placed bets on Paqueta receiving bookings in these matches, with wagers ranging from £7 to £400. These bets reportedly yielded combined winnings of around £100,000.

The FA has refrained from commenting on the case, although sources suggest the organization is advocating for stringent penalties, including possible suspension despite bets as small as £7 being involved. Paqueta, however, has denied any wrongdoing.

The matter is currently set for resolution in the coming summer, allowing Paqueta to continue competing for West Ham for the rest of the season. The case has reportedly impacted his performance, despite him recently scoring in a match while playing for West Ham.

The incidents under investigation include a booking from a game on the opening day of the current season against Bournemouth, where Paqueta was penalized for a handball. Other bookings included a foul on Boubakary Soumare from Leicester and challenges during matches against Leeds and Aston Villa.

This ongoing issue has drawn significant attention in the football community as fans and stakeholders await the FA’s final verdict.