Lucas Paquetá is facing two further charges for obstructing the FA’s betting case against him, according to reports.
The West Ham United player is set to face a hearing in March, but the football governing body is now charging him with two additional counts for allegedly obstructing the investigation by failing to cooperate, The Sun has stated.
Last year, Paquetá’s phone was confiscated for two months as part of the FA’s investigation into his messages, calls and banking history. During that time, he purchased a new mobile device.
Although the FA eventually returned the original phone, they later requested it back to verify additional details. However, the Brazilian midfielder has since disposed of it and is unable to locate it.
His initial charges stemmed from the FA’s claims that Paquetá intentionally received yellow cards in matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth during the 2023/24 Premier League season, which allowed him or his associates to profit from bets placed on him being booked. Notably, Paquetá has denied all allegations against him.
Reports suggest that around 60 individuals in Brazil wagered amounts between £7 and £400 on him getting carded in those games, leading to total winnings of £100,000.
While his hearing is set for March, the timeline for a verdict could extend into the summer. This means he will remain eligible to play throughout the current season, but could face a lifetime ban if found guilty.
When asked about Paquetá, West Ham’s Manager Julen Lopetegui said: “We don’t talk about that [the case], we talk about football. About the next match and about life, but not about that.”