By EFE
May 23, 2024, 1:35 PM EDT
The English Football Federation (FA) reported this Thursday that it is investigating the Brazilian player PaquetáWest Ham midfielder, for allegedly violating sports betting regulations.
The FA explained in a statement that the 26-year-old player has been accused of “misconduct in relation to alleged infringements” of two federal rules in four English league games played by his club in 2022 and 2023.
Specifically, the federation detected alleged irregularities in the meetings of the ‘hammers’ 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.
Paqueta, according to the note, was questioned by the FA last September and allowed its experts access to his mobile phone the following month for analysis.
How did the investigation into Lucas Paquetá begin?
The investigation began after the FA observed suspicious betting patterns regarding a yellow card which the Brazilian international received in extra time of the match at Bournemouth’s home, the first of last season and which ended in a 1-1 draw.
“Allegedly, he sought directly to influence the progress, conduct or any other aspect or event of these parties.” by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee with the improper purpose of affecting the betting market so that one or more people benefit from betting,” the FA said in the statement.
The federation announced that Paqueta has until June 3 to provide “a response” to these accusations. For his part, the Brazilian midfielder has expressed himself “extremely surprised and upset” by the fact that the FA has brought charges against him, while denying any irregular conduct.
“For nine months I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and have provided all the information I could,” Paquetá wrote on his Instagram account.
“I deny all charges in their entirety and will fight with all my might to clear my name. Due to the ongoing process, I will not make any further comments,” the player concluded.
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