The outcome of the betting investigation into Lucas Paqueta and the subsequent charges is still very much up in the air.
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City in the summer of 2023, and he had apparently agreed to join the Premier League champions, before it emerged that he was under investigation for breaches of betting rules.
The Brazilian played the entire 2023/24 campaign for the Hammers, before being officially charged for potential betting breaches last month.
It was recently suggested that he could face a multi-year ban, and that would obviously be an absolutely terrible outcome for both him and his club.
The former Lyon star opened up on the current situation he’s going through, when speaking to reporters at a press conference whilst away with the Brazil national team:
“This will be the first and only time I will speak about this matter. My lawyers have advised me not to comment on the matter.”
“What I can say is that I continue to do my best, cooperating. My lawyers defend me so that everything is clarified in the end.”
“The decision made me sad but we will do everything to change this decision and cooperate.”
West Ham fans desperate for Lucas Paqueta betting investigation outcome
The Hammers hierarchy fear that Paqueta could be banned for life if found guilty of the charges levelled against him.
That would obviously be an unmitigated disaster for West Ham, it really would.
Not only would Julen Lopetegui not be able to use the Brazilian, but we would have an unsellable asset on our hands as well, and that financial hit would be a hard one to stomach for the East London outfit.
Paqueta is currently away with the Brazil national team squad for their Copa America preparations.
The fact that he wasn’t left out of the squad is obviously good news but it doesn’t mean anything just yet.
The proof will be in the pudding when the trial regarding the alleged betting scam takes place.
One thing’s for sure, the current uncertainty surrounding his future is helping nobody.
Lucas Paqueta betting charges outcome predicted
Brazilian publication UOL sat down with Brazilian sports lawyers Carlos Henrique Ramos and Matheus Laupman, and asked them both about the ongoing Paqueta situation.
So what’s the latest. Is there a chance that the former Lyon man will escape scot free from charges he’s facing?
“As a first-time offender and, if the charges are proven, I do not believe in a ban, but in an eventual heavy suspension for a period of time, as there has been an increase in the severity of punishments involving manipulation of results, which undermines the unpredictability of the result, sporting merit and the own image of the sport, Carlos Henrique Ramos said.
Then Matheus Laupman weighed in by saying, “Paqueta could receive a 6-month suspension or even a ban from football. This depends on the seriousness of the facts.”
That sounds like really good news to me.
Ramos was keen to point out that if Paqueta is found guilty, the fact that he’s a first time offender will be taken into consideration.
Then Laupman predicted that a six-month ban could be handed out to the Hammers star – far less than the ‘life-time ban’ claims.
There have been similar cases to Paqueta’s over the past year in the Premier League, with Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali both being handed lengthy bans.
However, both players bet on their teams to win, so the West Ham’s ace’s case is slightly different.
If Lucas Paqueta is found guilty of the betting charges levelled against him, and he receives just a six-month ban, that would be a great result for him and the Hammers.
I just can’t see that scenario unfortunately. Surely he’ll be banned for at least a year, if he is indeed found guilty.
However, the best case scenario is obviously that he’s cleared of all charges and found innocent. Let’s hope that that is indeed what ends up happening.
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