Brazilian soccer star Lucas Paqueta now faces additional charges in the English Football Association’s (FA) ongoing probe into alleged spot-fixing.
The West Ham midfielder was initially charged in May with purposefully aiming to “receive a card from the referee to manipulate the betting market.”
These charges are unprecedented in English soccer and could end the 27-year-old’s career if proven.
The two new charges involve alleged interference with the investigation. Paqueta reportedly “lost” a crucial piece of evidence—a phone requested by FA investigators for data analysis.
Last year, the FA seized and returned Paqueta’s phone after two months. But when asked to return it for further analysis, Paqueta claimed he no longer had it.
Suspicious Bets
The FA’s investigation was launched last summer due to suspicious betting patterns related to a yellow card Paqueta received in West Ham’s match against Bournemouth on August 12, 2023.
The inquiry then expanded to examine cards he received in matches against Leicester City on November 12, 2022, Aston Villa on March 12, 2023, and Leeds United on May 21, 2023.
Around 60 people in Brazil bet between $9 and $520 on Paqueta receiving yellow cards during these games, resulting in roughly $130,000 in winnings.
Luis Henrique’s Connection
FA investigators are also looking into Paqueta’s family in Brazil. Brazilian media outlet UOL reported that Paqueta’s uncle and cousin transferred approximately $6,500 to another Brazilian soccer player.
Luis Henrique, who received the payment, was booked twice over consecutive weekends in 2013 while playing for Real Betis in Spain, during which sportsbooks noted suspiciously large bets on his yellow cards.
Henrique, currently playing for Botafogo in Brazil, denies any wrongdoing and is not under investigation by Spanish authorities. Paqueta’s uncle, Bruno Toledo, has claimed the transaction was a loan repayment.
Some of these suspicious bets were made in Duque de Caxias, near Paqueta Island, where Paqueta was born.
Manchester City Deal Falls Through
Spot-fixing scandals at the top level of English soccer are rare. Paqueta, who earns roughly $12 million a year at West Ham, was on the brink of a major career milestone.
The FA’s investigation derailed his planned transfer to Manchester City in the summer of 2023, reportedly valued at $110 million.
The case is expected to conclude by late summer. Meanwhile, Paqueta is allowed to continue playing for both West Ham and Brazil.
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