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Paquetá’s Yellow Card I Could Be His Swan Song

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The irony came in the shape of a third-minute yellow card, would you believe. That was the reason his coach had for hooking Lucas Paquetá at half time in Brazil’s 2-1 victory in their World Cup qualifiers against Chilé. His manager claimed that Paquetá was ‘compromised’ after receiving a caution and substituted at the interval. Brazil’s performance improved little after two changes were made at half time, according to media site oglobo.es.

The Brazilian site criticised his ‘silly passing errors’ and his lack of dynamism moving the ball forwards.

With the Brazilian Parliamentary Committee now bringing forward their enquiry into  the allegations surrounding Paquetá’s ‘yellow cards betting scandal’ – now due at the end of this month, it could very well be that the 27 year old Hammer is playing his last representative games for his country. More charges – allegations only at this stage – have been added by the FA and calls are regularly published demanding a lifetime ban if Paquetá is found guilty.

Even if ultimately found innocent, it would not surprise me for Paquetá to find himself dropped from Brazil’s representative team ‘for the duration’ of the process, as the media spotlight  lands squarely on him as soon as the various enquiries start in a matter of weeks.

Paquetá of course denies any wrong doing and refutes the allegations: If however the hearing by the parliamentary enquiry goes against him in Brazil,  it is difficult to imagine him being selected for his national side, at least pending the English FA enquiry for March 2025. Very sad. Whatever your opinion of the player’s culpability.

Quite how he retains any sort of focus at present is difficult to imagine: Professing his innocence against all allegations and trying to give of his best whilst processes on both sides of the Atlantic line up to put him under intense scrutiny seems almost an impossible ask.

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From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds' stand these days I've been watching since '03 and a supporter since about 1970.. 'Football is Life' oh yes. Let it raise your spirit but never darken your mood. Life's too short not to enjoy the journey with our Claret and Blue heroes n' villains.

5 comments

  • Phil Baker says:

    The elephant in the room is that being able to gamble on negative aspects of the game is inherently wrong .

  • Phil Baker says:

    This Paqueta affair has become a witch hunt by the FA . Because they began an investigation they now feel as if they have to convict Paqueta for something to justify themselves as seen by the latest ridiculous non compliance allegations relating to his phone that they had for two months and then incompetently returned to him . That was a blatant set up because of course he would throw it away as he would inevitably have bought a new one . The FA are now in the awful position of being liable for multi hundred million pound lawsuits from Westham (85 million plus ) and from Paqueta himself loss of livelihood and mental distress (100 million plus ) . The evil and/or incompetent people running the FA need to be removed in a root and branch overhaul .

  • John Ayris says:

    This has always depended on what the evidence from the betting end of things is, otherwise unremarkable yellow cards prove nothing with a player who is often booked.

    Whatever that evidence is it hasn’t changed. The charges re not submitting his phone for a second time are so weak as to be laughable. They’re better evidence of FA failings than Paqueta ones and even a poor silk would drive a bus through them. Why raise such weak charges unless the rest of what you’ve got is also weak ?

    Paqueta is a multi millionaire who can pay a top silk out of his weekly wage not even draw money out of his piggy bank, if he were to lose he would take it further. The more draconian a penalty were to be the more incentive there would be to take it further. I’m not as worried about this as most appear to be.

  • mark wiggins says:

    I see a conspiracy here from the FA , FA can mean a lot of things including knowing FA . Trumped up charges for tackled you see every week , normal for the player to get a yellow card . Also if you look at it tactically , he’s trying to win the ball or stop an attack . That was for the team every pl team do it . Listen his game is and play will drop off , it’s mentally daring for him . Put yourself in his place , would you perform at your best ? He’s human Martín. What he needs now is love and to feel supported . Let’s face it at his best he is awesome a game changer . Let’s support him when he’s found not guilty which I expect he will back to his best , then we will cheer him . Let’s stop the negativity , and I don’t belive for one minute the players don’t want to play for J-Lo . Didn’t look like that at Ipswich , did it . Want us to show what we can do every game & shut the media up . The West Ham way is fighting , pressing , working as a team offensively and defensively , pure determination to win . Would love a win at Spurs . We should support them all , come on lads , let’s do this . COYI ⚒⚒⚒

  • Robert Schmidt says:

    Very sad.

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