West Ham midfielder, Lucas Paqueta is facing a lengthy ban from football after being charged with four counts of spot-fixing in Premier League games.
According to reports, Paqueta had been charged on Thursday afternoon, May 23 by the FA who accused him of being deliberately booked in an attempt to influence betting markets.
The FA allege that Paqueta was deliberately booked in top-flight matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth so that either he and/or his friends could profit from bets placed on him being carded.
The Brazilian denies any wrongdoing and has the full support of his club.
The FA’s allegations have the potential to wreck his career and might develop into a high-profile corruption case.
Already, a proposed £80million summer transfer to Manchester City has collapsed with the Premier League champions withdrawing their long-standing interest, and a huge ban is inevitable if he is found guilty of any of the charges.
Former Reading defender, Kynan Isaac was given a career-ending 10-year ban from football for deliberately being booked whilst playing for Stratford Town in an FA Cup first-round tie against Shrewsbury three years ago.
Isaac was accused of being part of a conspiracy with friends to beat the bookmakers, with an independent commission handing him the longest ban since the notorious match-fixing scandal of 1964, which led to several players being jailed and given life bans.
Paqueta has co-operated with the FA throughout the investigation since last August, handing in his phone and being interviewed on several occasions last autumn, but hit out at the governing body after being charged on Thursday.
‘I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me,’ Paqueta said in a statement on social media. ‘For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can.
‘I deny the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name. Due to the ongoing process, I will not be providing any further comment.’
Paqueta aged 26, is due to play for Brazil in the Copa America this summer, although he was rested for several international games by head coach Dorival Junior after the FA launched their investigation last year before returning to the side to face England at Wembley in March.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
