Lucas Paquetá

FA may find it impossible to prove Paqueta guilt

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By Sean Whetstone
The alert that led to the investigation into the betting on Hammer Lucas Paqueta was automated within a computer monitoring system designed to look for suspicious patterns of betting.
Betway’s maximum payout is £500,000 and the maximum deposit on setup is £100,000 with new accounts setup on the day of the bets and allegedly there were several set up on the day in question.
The suspicious betting pattern on its own is not proof and investigators must prove a collusion between the player with those who place the bets.
As yet the FA have failed to provide any evidence to Paqueta’s representatives.
That evidence should come in the form of an email, recorded telephone conversation or video or some other form of communication.
Considering the international borders and legal jurisdictions this may prove an impossible task for the FA to prove a case against the West Ham player.
Unless he confesses or a witness makes a statement this case is likely to fail after a lengthy trial investigation .
In 2021 the same system flagged a £310,000 bet on Arsenal player Granit Xhaka receiving a yellow card with another £55,000 in-play bet also placed on the yellow card.
In May this year the Arsenal player was completely cleared in the betting scam on the basis there was no evidence of the player’s involvement.
Paqueta refutes any knowledge of the betting and has protested his innocence.
It could be that evidence against the West Ham player is circumstantial and will be dropped in 18 months time.

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

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