Lucas Paqueta escapes testimony in match-fixing inquiry
- Lucas Paqueta is no longer required to give evidence to a Brazilian inquiry into match-fixing, allowing him to play in the upcoming match against Leicester.
- The Football Association has charged Paqueta over suspicious yellow cards in several games, with a hearing scheduled for March.
- The ongoing investigations and scrutiny of Paqueta's performances have placed him under pressure as West Ham aims to improve its league standings.
In Brazil, the professional footballer Lucas Paqueta has avoided testifying before a government inquiry investigating match-fixing, which would have conflicted with his participation in an upcoming match. Initially, he was expected to miss the Premier League match against Leicester City due to scheduled testimony in São Paulo. However, recent developments indicate that he will no longer be required to appear, allowing him to participate in the match. Meanwhile, Paqueta is also facing scrutiny from the Football Association over several allegedly suspicious yellow card bookings during matches in the Premier League. These allegations concern events that took place in 2022 and 2023, where he is accused of deliberately receiving four yellow cards in matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth. The hearing for these charges is set for March, and a guilty verdict could impose significant penalties, including a potential ban from football. In addition, Paqueta is under investigation for individual spot-fixing allegations in Brazil, although he continues to assert his innocence regarding all allegations. Following a poor performance in a recent match against Arsenal where he conceded a penalty, Paqueta's form has been scrutinized by fans and pundits alike, resulting in calls for his removal from the starting lineup. Despite the controversies surrounding him, he has consistently started every league game for West Ham this season. The implications of these investigations and performance issues come at a challenging time for West Ham, whose manager expresses confidence in the team's upcoming match despite the off-field distractions affecting one of their key players.