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 midfielderthis season."

So some bloke who was on trial has suddenly started talking? I wonder if his charges will be dropped or reduced in return? Sounds dodgy as fuck.

• His hearing is set to go ahead next month (March).
• The Brazilian Parliamentary inquiry is, like most Brazilian political inquiries, a bit of a political stitch-up. Brazil is notorious for these things, and they're often used to settle political scores.
• However, the Brazilian authorities have said they won't be taking further action against Paqueta.
• That said, some 60 people are alleged to have bet on his bookings for West Ham.
• So, clearly, it all needs explaining.
• If he's found to have breached the rules, he's unlikely to get a global lifetime ban. There is too much wriggle room (e.g.: no action in Brazil etc). The FA might push for one, but any appeal above the heads of the FA would likely succeed.
• If he's found to have breached the rules, it'll be West Ham who suffer the most, because that's the sort of shit we deal with! I give you the Sheffield United "third party" malarkey with Tevez. How many other Premier League clubs used third party ownership (answer: many, including some of those winning silverware at the time)? But it came down on us.
• He denies any wrongdoing - and nothing has been proven.

 

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑14 Feb 2025, 11:14 It’s over 18 months since they started investigating him
Had his phone for 8 weeks & still haven’t charged him
Said before that the club should be sueing the FA for the £85m transfer to Man City that they KYBOSHED with this malicious nonsense
Sue all the board of the FA individually while we are at it

I still think the club will move him on if they can at a relatively cheap price. It will be seen as too much of a financial risk. No one in Europe will touch him but reports saying he is trying to get back to Brazil.

He has looked good under Potter but I find his form is so erratic. There is never any guarantee with him that he will regularly perform at a high level.



 

Was thinking ( dangerous ) that if he is found guilty and then continues playing as will ve his right when he inevitably appeals, he’s effectively tied to West Ham for the rest of his career assuming it will take years to resolve

It’s over 18 months since they started investigating him
Had his phone for 8 weeks & still haven’t charged him
Said before that the club should be sueing the FA for the £85m transfer to Man City that they KYBOSHED with this malicious nonsense
Sue all the board of the FA individually while we are at it

Interestingly its suggested even if the FA or league find him guilty his right to appeal and a legal case will mean they cannot stop him playing ( court if appeal/ human rights ) and by the time all legal proceedings complete his career will be over anyway and he wont have missed a game   

I have to agree with Nick (cue the Moyes Cult), nothing there and an absolute waste of time now, and hopefully Paqueta takes legal action when it's dropped. Funny, this pops up in the news as Man City again attempt to sue the premier league

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑12 Feb 2025, 19:43 Looking like more evidence came out today....something about the Villa yellow being a "Birthday Present" for his Brother!

Looking like more evidence came out today....something about the Villa yellow being a "Birthday Present" for his Brother!

It's over a year ago that this all started and I remember Paqueta if anything played better when this was first announced and it supposedly screwed up the ManCity signing.

"mallard 9:19 Wed Jul 17 ''It will be interesting to see how he performs with this hanging over him'' Don't see why it should effect him once he crosses the white line, if anything it's the one place he should forget about it the most. And it's not as if he's up for murder."

"Oh great. So we are stuck with another season of this showboating, diving twat in the midfield. Was really hoping Man City would take him off our hands for his £85 million buy out fee."

"Is he using the same legals as Man City? kicking this can further down the road and all that. LOL Just hope he keeps his form up, we may have missed out on a big transfer fee, but on the positive side, a player of this caliber could make all the difference to getting a European spot or not Look on the bright side i say."

"And Thanks, Alan"

Cheers Eerie

"Mashed, the difficult to prove bit is relevant only to a court of law. Unless they've got some cut & dry evidence, he won't be criminally convicted, and you would assume they haven't got hard evidence. However, what he is being accused of is spot fixing, and he can be found guilty in the court of arbitration for sport, on the balance of probability (whether anyone thinks that's fair or not is neither here nor there, that's the rule). To be honest, the likelihood is he will be found guilty, given the FA are pressing full steam ahead. The only hope we've got in that scenario is that it isn't a worldwide ban, and the Saudi's can pick him up on a decent enough fee, so we get something back at least. Wishful thinking maybe. Just got to enjoy him for this season, I don't think we'll see him in our shirt after that regardless."

You will still be able to back Paqueta to be booked with Betway next season. They went to big and got stung as far as I'm concerned Tinpot bookie with a shit website

"Booked in the first game, nailed on n."

"The 6yo asked what about tactical fouling or giving away throw-ins? Could be argued they'd benefit your team. That's what I'd argue if I were a lawyer (I'm not) Also what if they bet on 3 goals then were thru on goal for a 4th but cocked it up, intentionally or unintentionally? Suppose I'm saying this sort of thing has got to be very difficult to prove. We've all seen players boot the ball out to time-waste or in petulance, and intentionally hacking someone down was normal for some clubs."

"mashed in maryland 9:57 Wed Jul 17 Re: Paqueta - Latest news Silly question but if a player told someone ""I'm going to score 3 goals so put a fiver on it"" and then goes on and scores 3 goals... theoretically could similar charges be brought? Legally what separates a goal from a booking/throw-in etc.? Explain like I'm 6 id thought the difference would be obvious to a six year old, scoring for your own team is your intention anyway and doesn't corrupt the game, giving away free kicks and throw ins is not in your interest and corrupts the game"

The worst thing about this is it’s all due to Betway grizzling about 100k. If I was Paqueta the last thing I’d want to wear is a shirt with their logo on it. Sullivan should have told them they would be willing to tear up the sponsorship. They are an absolutely appalling betting company and fuck punters about left right and centre. But then that’s in line with what Sullivan is like himself.

"Silly question but if a player told someone ""I'm going to score 3 goals so put a fiver on it"" and then goes on and scores 3 goals... theoretically could similar charges be brought? Legally what separates a goal from a booking/throw-in etc.? Explain like I'm 6"

He is 28 now and will be nearer 30 by the time this is resolved so any big money move ain't going to happen regardless of whether he is found to be guilty or exonerated. Let's hope he can leave it all behind him when he crosses the white lines and gives us 100% in effort and commitment.

It will be interesting to see how he performs with this hanging over him ….thanks Alan