"I'm extremely surprised" - West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta reacts after FA confirm betting charge
The Football Association has confirmed that West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged betting breaches.
Paqueta is alleged to have affected the betting market in his native Brazil by intentionally receiving yellow card by referees across four Premier League fixtures.
The allegations first surfaced in August last year when the 26-year-old was under investigation by both FIFA and the FA, and the midfielder was interviewed by the latter before granting them access to his phone.
Paqueta has continuously denied all charges and stated in March that he is «happy to be helping as much as I can» with the investigation.
The FA have now released a statement confirming that the Brazil international has been charged, although they are yet to confirm if and how he will be punished.
FA release statement confirming Paqueta chargeAn FA statement released on Thursday read: «West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of FA Rules E5 and F3.
»The player has been charged with four breaches of FA Rule E5.1 in relation to his conduct in the club's Premier League fixtures against Leicester City on November 12 2022; Aston Villa on March 12 2023; Leeds United on May 21 2023; and AFC Bournemouth on August 12 2023.
«It's alleged that he directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.
»Lucas Paqueta has also been charged with two breaches of FA Rule F3 in respect of alleged failures to comply pursuant to FA Rule
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