West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta found himself at the center of controversy after being sent off for an angry altercation with referee Darren England during the match against Liverpool. Despite providing some light relief with goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, the Hammers’ chances were hindered by Paqueta’s needless outburst.
The incident occurred in the 84th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai went down under a challenge, sparking a heated reaction from Paqueta towards the referee. Despite not being directly involved in the challenge, Paqueta’s protests led to him being booked and subsequently sent off for his aggressive behavior. Even attempts from opposition goalkeeper Alisson to calm him down proved unsuccessful, and Paqueta’s actions were heavily criticized by commentators, with Don Goodman describing it as “completely irresponsible.”
As a result of his second yellow card, Paqueta will now face a one-match suspension, causing him to miss the upcoming fixture against Manchester United. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is likely to be frustrated with Paqueta’s actions, as they now face a challenging match without a key player.
While some scrutiny may also fall on captain Jarrod Bowen and other teammates for not intervening more effectively, the majority of blame has been directed towards Paqueta for his actions. Valued at €35m according to Transfermarkt, Paqueta’s absence will be felt as West Ham prepare to take on Manchester United in their next Premier League encounter.
