West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta is facing a fine of approximately £150,000 following FA misconduct charges, as reported by the Times. While Paqueta was cleared of spot-fixing allegations in July, he has been found guilty of failing to cooperate with investigators.
The charges against Paqueta involved deliberately receiving yellow cards in several matches to potentially influence bets for friends and family members. Although he was not banned for these allegations, he was found guilty of failing to provide information and answer questions during the FA’s investigation, leading to the breach of FA Rule F3 and the subsequent fine.
Paqueta had been following the advice of lawyers appointed by West Ham during the investigation process. Additionally, there is a possibility that the FA may need to cover the legal fees incurred by West Ham for the case, which could exceed £1 million.
Despite interest from Aston Villa, Paqueta remains with West Ham and showcased his commitment to the club with a goal in the recent match against Nottingham Forest. His celebratory gesture, pretending to answer a phone call and then indicating the club badge, hinted at his dedication to the team hours before the transfer deadline.
The situation surrounding Paqueta’s misconduct charges and the subsequent fine highlights the complexities and consequences of such cases in football.
