The Premier League’s season of off-field legal battles takes a dramatic turn today as the Football Association (FA) commences its prosecution of Lucas Paquetá, the West Ham midfielder, in what is being described as the most significant corruption case in English football since Bruce Grobbelaar’s acquittal 27 years ago.
Paquetá, a Brazilian international, faces severe accusations of spot-fixing, with the FA charging him with four counts of intentionally seeking yellow cards in Premier League matches to manipulate betting markets, and two counts of obstructing their investigation.
While not facing criminal charges, the stakes for the 27-year-old are immense, with the FA’s charge sheet, sent to West Ham last May, reportedly recommending a lifetime ban if found guilty by the independent panel.
The FA alleges that Paquetá “directly sought to influence […] 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.”
Paquetá vehemently denies any wrongdoing and has withdrawn from the Brazil squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina to be available to give evidence. The trial, which begins today, casts a significant shadow over his promising career.
A source close to the player stated, “Lucas is coping OK as he is innocent and believes he will be cleared, but this trial is the biggest game of his life.”
They added that the ongoing case, which has spanned two years, has not visibly impacted his form, attributing his inconsistency on the pitch to his natural playing style.
The investigation centers around approximately 60 bets placed on Paquetá receiving a yellow card in four Premier League games in 2022 and 2023.
The FA believes these bookings were deliberately orchestrated to generate profits for Paquetá’s family and friends. Interestingly, the sums involved were relatively small, with one bet as low as £7 and the highest reaching £400.
The case has already had significant financial repercussions for West Ham. An £80 million transfer to Manchester City, agreed upon before the FA investigation was launched in August 2023, collapsed when City were informed of the probe into suspicious betting patterns surrounding Paquetá’s bookings.
The catalyst for the FA’s investigation was a yellow card Paquetá received in the 93rd minute against Bournemouth on August 12, 2023, for handling the ball. The referee’s report, citing “persistent infringement,” coupled with the unusual volume of bets placed on him to be cautioned, triggered a formal probe.
Paquetá’s defense is expected to argue that he had asked then-manager David Moyes not to play him in the Bournemouth match due to concerns about jeopardizing the Manchester City transfer.
This, his legal team will argue, casts doubt on the FA’s claim of a conspiracy to get booked. Sources close to the player claim he signaled to be substituted from the 70th minute onwards but remained on the pitch, ultimately receiving the booking in injury time.
The investigation was initially sparked by an integrity alert from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) following an unusual number of bets placed on Paquetá to be booked during a match against Aston Villa in March 2022. He received a yellow card for a late challenge in that game.
Further scrutiny revealed suspicious betting patterns surrounding a yellow card received against Leicester in November 2022, and another against Leeds in May 2023. Analysis of betting activity in Brazil showed that many of these bets were placed using accounts linked to Paquetá’s family, including his uncle.
Paquetá has cooperated with the FA, providing phone records, bank statements, and his mobile. He was formally interviewed in October 2023 before being charged. One of the alleged breaches of FA rules relates to him disposing of his old mobile phone after it was returned to him, having purchased a new one in the interim.
In a statement released after being charged, Paquetá expressed surprise and upset, stating he had cooperated fully with the investigation and denied the charges entirely.
Leading sports lawyer Nick De Marco KC, who has previously represented high-profile figures like Ivan Toney, is leading Paquetá’s defense.
While Toney’s case, which resulted in an eight-month ban for betting rule breaches, could serve as a precedent for a lighter punishment, Paquetá is determined to prove his innocence.
His defense is expected to argue that much of the case relies on betting numbers, and that Paquetá consistently attracts a high volume of bets to be booked due to his poor disciplinary record.
They will also present data showing he has consistently conceded more free-kicks than his teammates, increasing his likelihood of being booked.
West Ham has publicly backed Paquetá, expressing confidence in his clearance. However, they are reportedly concerned about the lower threshold of proof required in FA disciplinary cases compared to criminal trials, where guilt must be proven “beyond reasonable doubt.” The FA panel will reach a verdict based on the “balance of probabilities.”
