It still remains very much up in the air as to whether Lucas Paqueta will receive a ban for his alleged betting breaches.
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is currently away on international duty with Brazil ahead of the Copa America.
It was claimed in the Brazilian media that a decision was due to be made on the 26-year-old’s future on June 10th, when senator Jorge Kajuru was set to meet with other members of the ‘The Parliamentary Inquiry Commission’.
No news has emerged since then though, regarding whether the Hammers star will be punished in his homeland or not.
Back in the summer of 2023, Paqueta was being heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, but that potential transfer was stopped in its tracks when it emerged that he was being investigated for his alleged involvement in a betting scam.
In fact, the Premier League champions were said to be ready to part with around £70 million to sign the South American play-maker (Daily Mail).
A lot has been reported since then regarding the Brazilian’s supposed misdemeanours.
Recently, it was suggested that the FA were recommending a life-time ban for Paqueta, if he is found guilty of the betting charges, after officially charging him.
The Brazil international is being charged for purposely picking up four yellow cards during West Ham’s games against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth.
It is alleged that sixty people placed bets on Paqueta to be booked in one or all of those matches, with the stakes ranging from just £7 to £400, leading to combined winnings of £100,000.
Paqueta ban incoming or will he escape free of charge
There are a few points of reference for us to look at when it comes to players who’ve been found guilty of betting breaches in the past.
Stratford Town defender Kynan Isaac was given a ten-year suspension for betting on himself to be booked in an FA Cup tie in 2021.
Meanwhile, Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali were handed eight and 10 month bans respectively for falling foul of betting rules.
However, both players bet on their teams to win, so the West Ham’s ace’s case is slightly different, and more akin to that of the aforementioned Isaac.
The situation is obviously a hugely concerning one for both the former Lyon star and West Ham as a club.
The Hammers face the prospect of having an unsellable £70-80 million asset, if the midfielder is proven guilty of the charges levelled against him – ones that he vehemently denies.
If he does receive a multi-year ban, it would be an unmitigated disaster for West Ham from a financial perspective.
So, is there a positive potential outcome for Paqueta and the Hammers? Or is it all doom and gloom?
What FA told Brazil football federation about Lucas Paqueta ban
Brazilian football federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues has been speaking to Mengo Press about the Hammers star.
Paqueta will be part of Brazil’s Copa America squad, and Rodrigues made it very clear that the Seleção are well within their rights legally to play him in international competition, in spite of the ongoing investigation.
He then made a stunning claim, and shared what the English FA have told him regarding the Paqueta case, “It was a very careful decision-making. The CBF first sought to hear from its legal and compliance board, in addition to the confederation’s integrity unit. We also consulted the English Federation, asking some very objective questions about the athlete’s situation.”
“In a case like this, the federation has to inform FIFA if it is to remove the athlete. When it doesn’t have the consistency of that punishment, it doesn’t do it”, Ednaldo said.
The Brazil football federation chief then concluded by saying “So, faced with the questions that the CBF asked, the English Federation responded that it had no provision for punishment. With this, the CBF understood that he could remain in the Brazilian team without any problems. I believe that throughout the Copa América there will be no problem, because the process is long. From what we gathered from the English Federation and everyone else, it is as if it were a complaint that will not be punished. At least that is our knowledge now.”
That surely has to be the most positive update we have heard yet regarding whether or not Lucas Paqueta will receive a ban.
It would be a major boost for the Hammers, if the 26-year-old is found innocent of all charges levelled against him.
That way, we will either be able to enjoy his quality for at least one more season, or cash in on him and hand Julen Lopetegui a massive boost to his summer transfer kitty.
Either way, I feel like a conclusion needs to be reached one way or another soon. This has dragged on for far too long now.
I’m just keeping by fingers crossed that the outcome is a positive one for Paqueta and West Ham United.
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