Lucas Paqueta has been a man playing under a cloud for what seems like a whole season since e the allegations of yellow card bet fixing broke. West Ham United have offered him support, Tim Steidten even jetted out to speak with Paqueta during the summer break. According to a new report today, the whole issue is set to take centre stage with a date set for the full hearing
The Hammers star is accused of deliberately getting yellow cards on four occasions last season so that family or associates could bet on the outcomes, according to the charges alleged against him.
Published in last nights’ ‘The Sun,‘, it appears the news had slipped quietly under the radar with all of the positivity surrounding West Ham’s 4-1 success on the pitch: ” LUCAS PAQUETA is expected to face his hearing over alleged spot fixing in March. The subtitle to the report was headed: “West Ham frustrated as Lucas Paqueta set to face hearing over alleged spot fixing during Premier League season.
The West Ham star, 27, was hit with four charges of intentionally being booked by the FA in May after an investigation into irregular betting on Paqueta Island in Brazil.”
Which will be a huge disappointment to both club and player, who would, no doubt have hoped that matters would either have taken place immediately or at the end of the season as previously suggested. Now slap – bang in the middle of the spring Premier League campaign, the enquiry and ramifications could well be a huge distraction for the whole second half of the season and potentially the run-in to end of the Premier League campaign with European competition places up for grabs. Paquetá and West Ham’s management will of course be hugely preoccupied with the possibility of a lifetime ban if found guilty.
