West Ham Online

"Sport Bible New report on Lucas Paqueta's spot-fixing charges reveals how much of next season West Ham star can play There has been an update on Paqueta's case. Alex Brotherton Lucas Paqueta will be free to play for West Ham for most of next season despite facing spot-fixing charges. Paqueta has been charged by the Football Association with four separate instances of spot-fixing. The 28-year-old stands accused of deliberately getting himself booked during four Premier League matches. It is one of the most serious cases of spot-fixing involving a top-flight player in England, and could land Paqueta with a lengthy ban. However, the Brazil international can continue to play until the disciplinary process has been completed. According to The Times, the outcome of the process could be delayed until the end of the 2024-25 season or beyond. That is due to the complexity of the case; Paqueta's lawyers say it will take many months to secure all the witness statements and relevant information they need for their defence. That's because the case spans three countries - England, Brazil and Spain - and involves a large number of people. The charges allege that Paqueta got himself booked during matches against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth over the past two seasons so that “one or more persons” could profit financially. The investigation that preceded the charges took eight months. In September 2023, Brazilian outlet Globo reported that suspicious gambling patterns were identified in Brazil relating to Paqueta being booked against Aston Villa in March that year. The bets were reportedly made using West Ham's shirt sponsor Betway, via accounts belonging to people linked to Paqueta. The FA initially gave the player until June 3 to respond to the charges, but his lawyers were granted an extension. English football's governing body has refused to put a timescale on the case. Paqueta has been linked with a move to Brazilian giants Flamengo this summer, but this latest development will give encouragement to new West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui that he can use the midfielder this season."

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑05 Jun 2025, 08:36

Gank wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 10:24

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 09:54 I genuinely believe Paqueta knew all too well what he was doing and is only surprised he got caught out and has played like a cսnt ever since. That's my gut feeling on the never ending fiasco that's continuing to hurt us either on the pitch or partly towards our transfer strategy. Just want him gone now after hopefully with a bit of luck he gets off due to lack of enough evidence regarding his lost blower and get a reasonable amount for him after everything that's happened. If a Club offered say £25M+ I'd be interested in the Club in doing something like that. 

I've got a bad feeling though he isn't going to get off with it.

If he gets off he could be back to his best, in which case we'll have one of the most talented players on the planet on our hands. I wouldn't want to sell him.

That's a bit strong. On his day he is good but 1 of the most talented on the planet is a real stretch of how good he is. He never was anywhere near consistent enough or had all the ability in the world. I'm also not convinced that once it's over he'll then suddenly come in to his best form again, but hopefully you're right though.

Should he get cleared and remains, he does then need to repay the faith and support shown in him. 

 

Gank wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 10:24

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 09:54 I genuinely believe Paqueta knew all too well what he was doing and is only surprised he got caught out and has played like a cսnt ever since. That's my gut feeling on the never ending fiasco that's continuing to hurt us either on the pitch or partly towards our transfer strategy. Just want him gone now after hopefully with a bit of luck he gets off due to lack of enough evidence regarding his lost blower and get a reasonable amount for him after everything that's happened. If a Club offered say £25M+ I'd be interested in the Club in doing something like that. 

I've got a bad feeling though he isn't going to get off with it.

If he gets off he could be back to his best, in which case we'll have one of the most talented players on the planet on our hands. I wouldn't want to sell him.

Yes, understood some or all of the bets related to Paqueta & a fellow Brazilian being booked on the same day in La Liga
Appears the Spanish have treated it like the minor nonsense that it is while the FA were busy digging an enormous hole 

I agree threesixty. At about the same time the Spanish FA were also told of a player and a similar allegation. Spanish did nothing and nothing happened. As far as I read, apart from a few journalists comparing the different response of English and Spanish, no organisation or betting company questioned that the Spanish did absolutely nothing about the allegations.

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑03 Jun 2025, 20:22 And they cost us £80m rather than addressing a minor issue with us to resolve it. 
How many businesses would continue a commercial relationship in that circumstance?

I assume from a compliance point of view, betway had no choice but to flag it up. That’s just how organisations work at that level. Im not sure betway are going after this aggressively though. I think it’s the FA themselves that have gone mad. Bungled the whole investigation (took his phone for weeks, didn’t get anything then asked for it back after he’d got a new one etc). 

It’s gone on so long because they don’t really have a case beyond circumstance. Which they could rule in with their power. But the legal ramifications for them destroying the guys career and losing West Ham 80m quid in a sale to Man City on “circumstance”, well that’s immense. 

I imagine the FA are shitting themselves right now. 

Rossal wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 11:26

Lee Trundle" wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 10:00

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑03 Jun 2025, 18:24 I don’t understand how our relationship with Betway continued after it was them that reported him
Especially after I imagine the squad were encouraged to use them
Youd hope if there was suspicion of these very minor inappropriate bets the company would have contacted the club & had him told to pull his head in
Its not as though if true they were being fleeced for millions 

Because Betway had to legally report this?  They've done nothing wrong (apart from offering these stupid types of bets to begin with).

Bookies have to do alot of things and many don't or weasel round it. Only we could have a betting company as our sponsors who are stupid enough to grass up the company they are in partnership with. 

Lee Trundle" wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 10:00

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑03 Jun 2025, 18:24 I don’t understand how our relationship with Betway continued after it was them that reported him
Especially after I imagine the squad were encouraged to use them
Youd hope if there was suspicion of these very minor inappropriate bets the company would have contacted the club & had him told to pull his head in
Its not as though if true they were being fleeced for millions 

Because Betway had to legally report this?  They've done nothing wrong (apart from offering these stupid types of bets to begin with).

We're a proper cheapskate club when it comes to sponsorship Tottenham Liverpool and Man Utd get mega deals from sponsors and we get holiday and double glazing companies that go bust. Del boy comes to mind.

Nothing would please me more if he gets let off.

He, hopefully, gets back to his best.  We have a good asset on our books again.  And the betting company gets screwed over.  Everyone's a winner.

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 09:54 I genuinely believe Paqueta knew all too well what he was doing and is only surprised he got caught out and has played like a cսnt ever since. That's my gut feeling on the never ending fiasco that's continuing to hurt us either on the pitch or partly towards our transfer strategy. Just want him gone now after hopefully with a bit of luck he gets off due to lack of enough evidence regarding his lost blower and get a reasonable amount for him after everything that's happened. If a Club offered say £25M+ I'd be interested in the Club in doing something like that. 

I've got a bad feeling though he isn't going to get off with it.

John Drake" wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 10:09 A betting company with morals? You're having a laugh. 

Could easily have been handled with a quiet word. With the amounts involved it would never have come to light had they not escalated it

A betting company with morals? You're having a laugh. 

Could easily have been handled with a quiet word. With the amounts involved it would never have come to light had they not escalated it

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑03 Jun 2025, 18:24 I don’t understand how our relationship with Betway continued after it was them that reported him
Especially after I imagine the squad were encouraged to use them
Youd hope if there was suspicion of these very minor inappropriate bets the company would have contacted the club & had him told to pull his head in
Its not as though if true they were being fleeced for millions 

I genuinely believe Paqueta knew all too well what he was doing and is only surprised he got caught out and has played like a cսnt ever since. That's my gut feeling on the never ending fiasco that's continuing to hurt us either on the pitch or partly towards our transfer strategy. Just want him gone now after hopefully with a bit of luck he gets off due to lack of enough evidence regarding his lost blower and get a reasonable amount for him after everything that's happened. If a Club offered say £25M+ I'd be interested in the Club in doing something like that. 

I've got a bad feeling though he isn't going to get off with it.

The club takes a load of money from a betting company
Betting is fraught with corruption
Potential for scams huge
Laws brought in to stop the betting scams but betting companies are fine
Lives ruined by betting

Paqueta's life is bliss in comparison to most. 
 

And they cost us £80m rather than addressing a minor issue with us to resolve it. 
How many businesses would continue a commercial relationship in that circumstance?

I dunno, maybe we had a contract with them or something? 

 

I don’t understand how our relationship with Betway continued after it was them that reported him
Especially after I imagine the squad were encouraged to use them
Youd hope if there was suspicion of these very minor inappropriate bets the company would have contacted the club & had him told to pull his head in
Its not as though if true they were being fleeced for millions 

The club should be all over the FA. The FA are behaving like a Victorian school master intent on punishing a disliked child, irrespective of guilt. The FA were, and are, wrong on so many counts. 
To pursue the matter at all, Paqueta is accused of insider trading, providing details of when and where he would get booked for others to profit from, a crime so the matter should have been referred to the courts; to apply civil rules to a criminal allegation; to take so much time; to have so many leaks as to be essentially subjected to a cease and desist order by Paqueta's team; to determine that a life ban would follow ignoring that it was only allegations the first time the suggestion was made; the laughable debacle of the phone matter; the general absence of innocent until proven guilty; and now this latest, further delay.
Newcastle and Brentford were both four square publicly behind their players, AND THEY WERE BOTH ACKNOWLEDING THEIR GUILT!
West Ham are largely silent even though their employee denies any wrong doing. As a responsible employer they could, and should have raised hell at every delay; dalliance; leak; and threat that came out of the FA. Why? Well, it is clearly affecting Paqueta as an individual and they should support him publicly. The tears at Tottenham were heart-breaking. Such support would send a message to current and future employees that the club has your back rather than you need to watch your back. West Ham Family? It clearly affects Paqueta as an asset. Under this cloud it is hardly surprising that he has not had a stellar season and his value reduced. 
So why are the club so quiet?
Do they know he is guilty even though the ex manager gave evidence understood to be on the players behalf?
Could it be self interest in that their aversion to a Government oversite is greater than looking after one of their employees? After all Brady did visit the House of Lords to suggest that the Government should not get involved in regulation of football and leave it to the FA and Premier League.  
Conjecture.
The FA's actions in this matter hardly suggest that they are capable of dealing with this kind of situation in a professional, timely manner and proper oversite seems essential to protect individuals within the game; clubs; supporters; and the overall integrity of the game.
Whatever, one can only hope that the club have supported Paqueta privately, and any details in that respect should remain behind closed doors. Their public inaction only lead me to question, dislike and distrust them even more. On a purely human level they should have spoken out and they didn't.

    

Understood before the last delay the FA made an offer which involved some sort of ban but not life which was rejected of course
Our response should have been to say we wouldn’t sue if the case was thrown out immediately 
The FA have dug a hole and don’t know how to get out of it without looking like cunts

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑03 Jun 2025, 09:08 The Club at this point should get involved instead of sitting back for the outcome, hire some very fucking expensive lawyers, and move to have the whole thing thrown out.


 

The Club at this point should get involved instead of sitting back for the outcome, hire some very fucking expensive lawyers, and move to have the whole thing thrown out.

 

The further delay is because VAR are looking at it now