In a recent development, it has come to light that the Football Association (FA) is currently conducting a secret five-month investigation into suspicious bets involving West Ham star Lucas Paqueta.
The focus of this probe revolves around three yellow cards that Paqueta received, one of which was obtained in the first game of the current season.
Earlier this month, reports emerged indicating that the Brazilian midfielder was under investigation by the FA for potential betting breaches.
These allegations surfaced at a time when Manchester City showed interest in signing Paqueta. However, it is now understood that any potential move to the Etihad stadium is off the table.
The repercussions of the investigation are already being felt, as Paqueta was left out of the Brazil squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Interim boss Fernando Diniz stated that the decision to exclude Paqueta was made at the last minute, allowing the player to resolve these issues. Diniz expressed his admiration for Paqueta, highlighting that he is a player he admires greatly.
According to the Daily Mail, the FA has been discreetly investigating suspicious bets on Paqueta receiving yellow cards in three West Ham games for a period of five months.
The report reveals that the first yellow card was given during a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on March 11, while the second occurred in a 3-1 win over Leeds on May 21.
However, it was the booking in West Ham’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth on August 12 that supposedly accelerated the previously covert investigation and subsequently led to Paqueta’s potential move to Manchester City falling through.
Integrity officials alerted the FA about suspicious bets on Paqueta being booked in the Bournemouth match, prompting the FA to conduct their own due diligence. Two days later, both Paqueta and West Ham were informed of the investigation.
Interestingly, Paqueta claims to have been unaware of the investigation until that point. It has been revealed that all three yellow cards were linked to accounts registered in Paqueta Island, located near Rio de Janeiro.
Sky Sports has reported that Paqueta is shocked by the developments and vehemently denies placing any bets himself.
Despite the ongoing investigation, West Ham manager David Moyes has shown his support for the player, trusting him to deliver a stellar performance during their recent 3-1 victory over Chelsea.
Both the FA and West Ham have been reached out to for comments on the matter.