The four yellow cards Lucas Paqueta is being investigated over revealed as West Ham star faces 10-year ban
- 22 days ago
These are the four moments that could see West Ham star Lucas Paqueta banned for 10 years.
The Brazilian has been charged by the Football Association with four counts of alleged spot-fixing by deliberately getting booked in an attempt to influence betting markets.
The FA alleges that Paqueta picked up yellow cards on purpose in Premier League matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth so either he or his friends could profit through betting.
Paqueta strenuously denies any wrongdoing but if found guilty, the resulting ban could wreck his career. A proposed £80million summer move to Manchester City has already collapsed.
In one precedent, the former Reading defender Kynan Isaac was given a career-ending 10-year ban from football after deliberately getting booked playing for non-league Stratford Town against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup three years ago.
INCIDENT ONE: November 12, 2022; 60th minute, West Ham 0-2 Leicester City
The first of the four came just before the mid-season break for the Qatar World Cup in November 2022.
As Leicester's Boubakary Soumare breaks into the West Ham half, Paqueta chases back and lunges into him from behind.
Play initially continued but when Soumare remained down on the turf, referee Jarred Gillett blew his whistle and brandished a yellow card, with Paqueta keeping his head bowed as he accepted the punishment.
INCIDENT TWO: March 12, 2023; 70th minute, West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa
The second came in another Premier League game at the London Stadium later that season.
Villa's John McGinn crosses the halfway line and tries to get between Paqueta and Danny Ings. The Brazilian brings him down in the center circle right in front of referee Chris Kavanagh.
Play is halted immediately and the yellow card produced with McGinn far from happy at the tackle.
INCIDENT THREE: May 21, 2023; 65th minute, West Ham 3-1 Leeds United
The third moment is right towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
After Leeds cleared a West Ham set-piece with the scores locked at 1-1, Paqueta prevents Crysencio Summerville from breaking away with a trip.
Referee Peter Bankes has little hesitation in showing a yellow card.
INCIDENT FOUR: August 12, 2023; 93rd minute, Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham
The final incident occurred on the opening day of the season just finishing.
From a goal kick, Paqueta jumps for an aerial challenge just inside the Bournemouth half and handles the ball.
The referee is again Bankes, who isn't too far away, and issues the booking.
Paqueta has co-operated with the FA throughout since they launched their investigation last August, handing in his phone and being interviewed on several occasions last autumn, but hit out at the governing body after being charged on Thursday.
The Brazilian has been charged by the Football Association with four counts of alleged spot-fixing by deliberately getting booked in an attempt to influence betting markets.
The FA alleges that Paqueta picked up yellow cards on purpose in Premier League matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth so either he or his friends could profit through betting.
Paqueta strenuously denies any wrongdoing but if found guilty, the resulting ban could wreck his career. A proposed £80million summer move to Manchester City has already collapsed.
In one precedent, the former Reading defender Kynan Isaac was given a career-ending 10-year ban from football after deliberately getting booked playing for non-league Stratford Town against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup three years ago.
INCIDENT ONE: November 12, 2022; 60th minute, West Ham 0-2 Leicester City
The first of the four came just before the mid-season break for the Qatar World Cup in November 2022.
As Leicester's Boubakary Soumare breaks into the West Ham half, Paqueta chases back and lunges into him from behind.
Play initially continued but when Soumare remained down on the turf, referee Jarred Gillett blew his whistle and brandished a yellow card, with Paqueta keeping his head bowed as he accepted the punishment.
INCIDENT TWO: March 12, 2023; 70th minute, West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa
The second came in another Premier League game at the London Stadium later that season.
Villa's John McGinn crosses the halfway line and tries to get between Paqueta and Danny Ings. The Brazilian brings him down in the center circle right in front of referee Chris Kavanagh.
Play is halted immediately and the yellow card produced with McGinn far from happy at the tackle.
INCIDENT THREE: May 21, 2023; 65th minute, West Ham 3-1 Leeds United
The third moment is right towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
After Leeds cleared a West Ham set-piece with the scores locked at 1-1, Paqueta prevents Crysencio Summerville from breaking away with a trip.
Referee Peter Bankes has little hesitation in showing a yellow card.
INCIDENT FOUR: August 12, 2023; 93rd minute, Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham
The final incident occurred on the opening day of the season just finishing.
From a goal kick, Paqueta jumps for an aerial challenge just inside the Bournemouth half and handles the ball.
The referee is again Bankes, who isn't too far away, and issues the booking.
Paqueta has co-operated with the FA throughout since they launched their investigation last August, handing in his phone and being interviewed on several occasions last autumn, but hit out at the governing body after being charged on Thursday.