West Ham have responded after a worrying new claim about the FA charges against Lucas Paqueta and it’s a major boost.
There’s never a dull moment at West Ham and last week proved that yet again.
On the same day West Ham unveiled new head coach Julen Lopetegui, the FA officially charged Lucas Paqueta over alleged involvement in illegal betting.
Most West Ham fans had made peace with the fact Paqueta was set to leave them for Man City this summer.
After all Paqueta to Manchester City has been on the cards since last year.
The champions had triggered Paqueta’s £85m release clause but the move collapsed due to the FA and FIFA opening an investigation into West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico.
With talk the case was going to be concluded in Paqueta’s favour, West Ham fans were already spending the £85m from his expected sale in their heads.
West Ham respond after new Paqueta claim
Especially with Lopetegui and Tim Steidten intending to make eight or nine new signings to revamp a threadbare Hammers squad.
There are even some fans who welcomed the prospect of selling Paqueta given his woeful form in recent months with some accusing him of ‘coasting’.
In a statement an FA spokesman confirmed Paqueta has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of FA Rules E5 and F3.
A leading sports lawyer has confirmed the charges Paqueta faces are a ‘different magnitude’ to what we have seen previously in football.
Any punishment that might be handed down will reflect that with 10-year bans and even prison terms possible outcomes.
An independent three-person tribunal will now decide Paqueta’s fate.
It has been confirmed that West Ham do not have insurance for this situation. Although if found guilty the Hammers would be able to save around £21m in wages by tearing up his contract.
Major boost after Paqueta availability claims
Since the charge, reporting has ranged from sensationalist to downright inaccurate online and on social media.
Now West Ham have responded after a new Paqueta claim and it’s a major boost.
It’s obvious Paqueta won’t now be sold until the case is resolved. So West Ham will miss out on an £85m pay day it seems.
But many Hammers fans have been asking the same question about Paqueta since he was officially charged.
‘Can he still play for West Ham now he has been charged?’
Some responses on social media and fan forums have stated that Paqueta cannot play until the panel hands down its verdict.
Yesterday West Ham insider Sean Whetstone claimed the Paqueta case could take years to play out.
So Hammers News has spoken to the top source inside West Ham about the player’s availability while he awaits the panel to decide his fate.
Best of a bad situation
And it’s good news indeed after a short but very sweet response from the top contact inside the club.
When asked whether Paqueta can play for West Ham in the time before the independent panel passes judgement, the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News: “Yes.”
In what is a messy situation this does at least give West Ham something.
They will still have Paqueta available and on his day everyone knows he can be one of the best players around.
West Ham should also have a player who is not only grateful to be out there playing the beautiful game at the top level but also for his club’s backing throughout the saga.
The Hammers will be hoping their best paid played will be looking to repay them on the pitch.
So there you have it West Ham fans, direct from the club Paqueta WILL be available for Lopetegui until his case is heard by the panel.
Given it is being claimed that could rumble on for a significant period, at least we know he will still be able to play for the Hammers and is not a complete write-off.
Yes the £85m would have been fantastic for Steidten and Lopetegui to strengthen.
But it’s one less player to find and let’s be realistic, West Ham would have struggled to find a player as good as Paqueta anyway.