- Casino
- By State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- By State
- Slots
- Poker
- Sports
- Esports
Fact-checked by Stoyan Todorov
Lucas Paquetá Faces Lifetime Soccer Ban Amid New Charges from FA
The case revolves around unusual betting patterns linked to Paquetá's yellow cards during matches in the 2023/24 season
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.
Silvia has dabbled in all sorts of writing – from content writing for social media to movie scripts. She has a Bachelor's in Screenwriting and experience in marketing and producing documentary films. With her background as a customer support agent within the gambling industry, she brings valuable insight to the Gambling News writers’ team.
Previous Article
Sports
October 11, 2024
JPMorgan Analysts Forecast Prosperity for Wynn's UAE Casino
Must Read
More Articles
Industry
November 6, 2024
Sports Betting Initiative Receives Approval from Missouri Voters
Sports
November 6, 2024
Paige Spiranac Partners with SportsGrid for Casino-Themed Shows
Sports
November 6, 2024
US Influencers Promote Betting on Polymarket Despite Ban
Industry
November 6, 2024
Election Day Sends Polymarket and Kalshi to Top of App Store
Industry
November 5, 2024
Investigation Into Election Worker Attack in Las Vegas Continues
Industry
November 5, 2024
Chinese Soldiers Advised Against Online Gambling, Dating
Industry
November 5, 2024
Residents in Three US States Vote on Critical Gambling Measures
Casino
November 5, 2024
MetaWin Hit by $4M Cyber Heist, Most Funds Recovered
Industry
November 4, 2024
Dutch Regulator Reprimands Operators over Sponsorship Violations
Legal
November 4, 2024
Ex-GVC Holdings Leaders Take UK Gambling Commission to Court