West Ham's Lucas Paquetá Charged by FA for Alleged Yellow Card Betting Rule Breaches in Four Matches

May 23, 2024, 03:28 PM

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá, 26, has been officially charged by the Football Association (FA) for alleged breaches of betting rules. The FA accuses Paquetá of intentionally receiving yellow cards in four Premier League matches against Leicester City on November 12, 2022, Aston Villa on March 12, 2023, Leeds United on May 21, 2023, and Bournemouth on August 12, 2023, to influence the betting market. Specifically, the charges relate to FA Rules E5 and F3, which pertain to match-fixing and betting misconduct. Paquetá, who has denied the charges, has until June 3 to respond. If found guilty, he could face a lengthy ban from football. The Brazilian player expressed surprise and upset over the charges, stating that he has cooperated fully with the FA's investigation over the past nine months.