Lucas Paqueta has come out fighting following the FA’s decision to charge him with misconduct related to betting irregularities.
There had been growing confidence from the Brazilian’s representatives in recent weeks that no charges would be made. Only recently, a source close to the player said, “The FA has no evidence and we expect the charges to be dropped.” Therefore, it has come as a huge surprise to Paqueta, who was increasingly confident of securing his protracted transfer to Manchester City.
It’s highly unlikely that the Premier League champions will sanction a multimillion-pound transfer for any player who has a potential betting ban looming.
A clearly frustrated Paqueta said on his social media: “I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me. For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and have provided all the information I can. I deny the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name. Due to the ongoing process, I will not be providing any further comment.”
Let’s wait n see what happens in June – C’mon….. it’s four alleged breaches well inside one year, nothing like the 262 different breaches over four years which earned Ivan Toney a lengthy ban.
That is a very salient point John. Prop betting is creating a serious problem in sports. There was a basketball player recently banned for life for prop bet fixing during games. It is too easy for players (read human beings) to fall afoul of this sort of betting. Definitely not the last case we’ll hear of. But money trumps all else so won’t change.
It seems to me though, that unless you have corroborated testimony, his yellow cards and any 3rd party betting patterns are just coincidence not proof. Correlation is not causation after all.
Spot on Sydney well said mate
How about making it that things that a single player can influence like being booked are not investigated. Leave it to the betting industry whether they’re prepared to accept bets on one person fixable things like that. What interest is being prioritised here football or gambling ? It seems to me that football assists in making its players tarnishable.
I looked it his yellow cards on Transfermarkt website. It is interesting that a lot of his yellow cards seem to have happened in 90 minutes plus extra time part of the game. Coincidence? Or tiredness at the end of a game leading to poor tackles?
Not guilty, same as the Tevez thingy.
As they say no smoke without fire ?
I think we all know he is most likely guilty. What an idiot. And the cost to the club will be massive.