So it’s official — what Claret & Hugh told you yesterday has now been confirmed by the mainstream media: Lucas Paquetá’s FA hearing has been postponed until the end of the season.
The good news is that West Ham’s Brazilian playmaker will be available for the remainder of the campaign, though in truth, that was never seriously in doubt.
What has changed is that the uncertainty surrounding the player and his future looks set to continue almost indefinitely. By the time the Football Association delivers its verdict on Paquetá’s alleged betting breaches, it could be nearly two years since he was first charged.
That’s a full 24 months of uncertainty, failed transfers, lost wages — and mental strain that simply can’t be quantified. As we’ve reported on several occasions, there may well be strong grounds for damages from both West Ham and the player himself should he be acquitted of all charges.
While details from the investigation and hearing have been scarce, it’s fair to say that the FA appear to have gone from projecting confidence to simply kicking the can down the road.
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Of course, it’s still possible there is a monumental piece of evidence yet to be revealed by the FA’s investigation team. However, surely any damning proof would have surfaced by now — and instead, this investigation appears to be tapering off with a whimper.
Comparisons to the ban imposed on former England striker Ivan Toney are largely irrelevant, as the forward admitted guilt to over 300 breaches. Paquetá’s case is vastly different — the player denies all charges and appears determined to prove his innocence.
In the absence of reliable updates from the hearing, it’s difficult to know exactly what’s going on. But one thing is clear: the longer this drags on, the worse it looks for the FA — and the better it looks for the player.
Even in the event of a full acquittal, this saga is unlikely to end there. West Ham and Paquetá will surely begin assessing their significant losses, not only from the charges themselves but from the prolonged and damaging delay in concluding this farcical debacle.
It’s reached barmy proportions now, I’m not sure what more can be said.
Sounds like they think he’s guilty but can’t prove it. Time to put it to bed and leave the man alone whatever.
The longer they drag it on the more stupid and incompetent they look and the.more compensation their going to have to cough up. More fool them.
I don’t get this adjournment and the time it is taking. If all the evidence has been given, then surely it is just a decision that needs to be made. Why does it have to be hung out until the summer? Will anything change?
It would be nice if the FA could be sued right now. Surely there must be a way their hand could be forced by legal action against them?
“the player denies all charges and appears determined to prove his innocence” Since when does anybody have to prove their innocence???
The FA is quite simply not fit for purpose.
If he is found not guilty then West Ham and the player should get significant compensation. Club lost out on a deal with Man. City and haven’t had the player they should because of the pressure he has been under. God knows how Paqueta feels with this hanging over him. It has to affected his mental health if nothing else.