Lucas Paquetá Faces Lifetime Soccer Ban Amid New Charges from FA

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá might get banned from soccer for life as he fights new accusations in an ongoing betting probe by the Football Association (FA). 

New FA Charges Accuse Paquetá of Hindering Investigation

The Brazilian soccer player already faces questions about the alleged manipulation of bookings in four Premier League games to affect betting results. New reports indicate that the FA has brought two more charges against him, because he did not help with the investigation, reported The Sun.

The case centers on odd betting trends tied to Paquetá’s yellow cards in games against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth in the 2023/24 season. The FA claims Paquetá got booked on purpose in these matches, with about 60 people in Brazil said to have placed bets from £7 ($9) to £400 ($522) on him getting a yellow card. These bets led to winnings of around £100,000 ($130,461). Paquetá has stuck to his story of innocence the whole time saying he had no part in fixing matches.

The new accusations against the midfielder center on how he dealt with a cell phone the FA had taken during their probe. In the previous year, investigators looked through his texts, phone records, and bank activity for proof. The FA gave the phone back to him after keeping it for two months. But later, they asked for it again to check more details to find out that Paquetá had gotten rid of it. Now, the FA is saying he hindered the investigation because he could not show them the device, which has led to two serious charges of not cooperating.

Paquetá Continues to Play for West Ham as He Awaits 2025 Hearing

Despite serious accusations, Paquetá still plays for West Ham as he waits to have a formal hearing set for March 2025. A final decision is not expected until summer, so he can play for the rest of the season. His recent games show the impact of his ongoing legal issues, but he did score when West Ham beat Ipswich Town 4-1 last weekend.

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui backs Paquetá praising his dedication and hard work despite the chance of a lifelong ban. Lopetegui also says he wants to focus on the game instead of talking about the case with the player. Paquetá promises to prove his innocence saying he will fight the accusations at every turn.

As the case moves forward, the FA has not made any public statement about the investigation. However, news from different sources suggests that the governing body is pushing for a harsh punishment, including the possibility to ban Paquetá from soccer for life.

Additionally, the FA investigation has put a stop to Paquetá’s$90 million move to Manchester City even though the clubs had agreed on the transfer deal.