La Liga chief Javier Tebas claims West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta and his co-accused star have been ‘marked’ by FIFA.
Javier Tebas is the outspoken president of the Spanish top flight who is never shy in voicing his opinion.
Now he has been talking about West Ham star Lucas Paqueta and his fellow Brazilian Luiz Henrique of Real Betis.
Out the blue last month it emerged West Ham ace Paqueta is being investigated by the FA and FIFA over potential betting breaches.
The accusations levelled against Paqueta – which he vehemently denies – could result in a ‘multi-year ban’ or even a ‘jail sentence’ if the Hammers ace is found guilty.
The key word in this scenario is of course ‘IF’.
Outspoken president of Spanish top flight sparks angry response with comments
Allegations facing Paqueta – which centre around three West Ham bookings this year – saw a big money move to Man City collapse. They are linked to the bookings bets also placed on Paqueta’s compatriot Henrique.
Now La Liga chief Tebas has claimed West Ham’s Paqueta and his co-accused star have been ‘marked’ by FIFA.
Tebas’ comments have angered Angel Haro, the president of Real Betis, where ex West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini is Henrique’s manager.
Tebas was careful not to mention Paqueta by name but referred to West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico as ‘the Premier League player’.
La Liga chief Javier Tebas claims West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta and his co-accused star have been ‘marked’ by FIFA
The La Liga chief’s comments came as he claimed Betis were trying to sell Henrique to raise funds but couldn’t after he effectively became damaged goods as a result of the accusations.
Given reports suggested West Ham and Man City had agreed an £85m deal for Paqueta before the allegations emerged, his comments will also chime with the Hammers.
“It is a cross-match bet with a Premier League player (Paqueta) involving yellow cards, which are quite stylish (fashionable),” Tebas told Diario AS.
“(Henrique) is now a marked player and so it is impossible for Betis to sell him. He is marked because he is being investigated and I think he has not been able to play for Brazil’s U23s as a result of this, if I am not mistaken. Betis has lost an asset, in addition.”
‘I didn’t like his statements…’
The inference as a result – given the duo are the subject of the same accusations – is that West Ham’s Paqueta is also ‘marked’ and a ‘lost asset’.
While West Ham are yet to respond to Tebas, Real Betis have wasted little time taking him to task over his comments.
“I didn’t like the statements, it wasn’t appropriate, because there isn’t enough evidence to definitively state that the player is ‘marked’, but no, I didn’t like them,” Haro said, as reported by Football Espana.
“Have I let him know? Yes!”
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