Lucas Paqueta has been a man playing under a cloud for what seems like a whole season since e the allegations of yellow card bet fixing broke. West Ham United have offered him support, Tim Steidten even jetted out to speak with Paqueta during the summer break. According to a new report today, the whole issue is set to take centre stage with a date set for the full hearing .
The Hammers star is accused of deliberately getting yellow cards on four occasions last season so that family or associates could bet on the outcomes, according to the charges alleged against him.
Published in last nights’ ‘The Sun,‘, it appears the news had slipped quietly under the radar with all of the positivity surrounding West Ham’s 4-1 success on the pitch: ” LUCAS PAQUETA is expected to face his hearing over alleged spot fixing in March. The subtitle to the report was headed: “West Ham frustrated as Lucas Paqueta set to face hearing over alleged spot fixing during Premier League season.
The West Ham star, 27, was hit with four charges of intentionally being booked by the FA in May after an investigation into irregular betting on Paqueta Island in Brazil.”
Which will be a huge disappointment to both club and player, who would, no doubt have hoped that matters would either have taken place immediately or at the end of the season as previously suggested. Now slap – bang in the middle of the spring Premier League campaign, the enquiry and ramifications could well be a huge distraction for the whole second half of the season and potentially the run-in to end of the Premier League campaign with European competition places up for grabs. Paquetá and West Ham’s management will of course be hugely preoccupied with the possibility of a lifetime ban if found guilty.
If I were to bet on getting a yellow card, Alvarez is a gimme.
Maybe I missed it in the article, but what date is the hearing?
Pathetic and typical of a governing body that is clueless. If the evidence is there, they should have held the hearing within six weeks of the complaint, not spend months and years attempting to cobble together a case. Whatever the result is, can anyone truly have confidence in the process… I think not!
Spot on!
The FA have loads of money. They can afford to employ sufficient people to prepare this case much earlier and get it over with. Keeping people waiting for yonks for their hearing to come up is punishment in itself.
Why do all of these governing bodies behave with such high-handed disdain.
Why have the hearing in the middle of the season?
Are we going to see Man City deducted 50 points mid season too?
Come on FA and Peemier League, let’s not be so blatant, having one rule for the minows and another rule to protect the BIG 6!!!!