West Ham midfielder’s sending off comes months after he was cleared of match-fixing charges
Lucas Paqueta launched into a tirade against the English Football Association after getting sent off for West Ham against Liverpool on Sunday.
The Brazilian midfielder was dismissed late in the second half at the London Stadium, receiving two yellow cards for dissent in quick succession. The decision left West Ham a man down for the remainder of the match.
Paqueta’s sending off came months after he was cleared of four spot-fixing charges following an FA investigation that lasted almost two years.
The case centred on allegations that he deliberately sought yellow cards in Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023, claims he denied.
After the game, Paqueta vented on social media: “It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation.
“Perhaps this ridiculous behaviour is just a refllection of everything I’ve had to endure and, it seems, have to continue enduring! I’m sorry I’m not perfect.
“I understand that now I have to look like the villain; it’s difficult to live with everything that has been caused in my life and in my mental health!
“I will continue trying to prevent them from affecting me even more.
“This does not justify my expulsion, and for that I apologise to the fans and my teammates!”
