West Ham ‘face being sued’ by Premier League rivals amid Lucas Paqueta latest
West Ham United could be subject to further legal ramifications in the wake of Lucas Paqueta’s FA betting hearing.
Paqueta is set to be involved in a three-week hearing over the four separate betting charges he’s facing from the FA, concerning four allegedly deliberate yellow cards he picked up across 2022 and 2023.
The Brazilian midfielder has still been free to play for West Ham this season after being charged in May 2024, despite those charges potentially warranting a lifetime ban and involving several other court dates.
With that three-week hearing set to begin in the coming days with Paqueta maintaining his innocence while starring for West Ham, it remains to be seen how the Irons would handle a possible guilty verdict.
Alex Crook moots legal action amid Lucas Paqueta fallout
The Irons have still been able to pick the Brazilian of their own volition this term in the face of his charges, with Paqueta making 23 Premier League appearances for West Ham and scoring four goals.
Those four goals have contributed to the Hammers beating both Ipswich Town and Fulham, and drawing 1-1 at Bournemouth, but Alex Crook wondered if that could spell trouble for West Ham down the line.
Speaking on talkSPORT (6 March, 7:55am), the journalist said: “He was first charged in May of last year.
“He’s been injured at times, but he’s pretty much been able to play a whole season, where he would have influenced results – not just for West Ham, but in terms of the teams that he’s been facing.
“If he does get a lengthy ban now, I wonder if some of the teams that he’s helped to defeat; they might have something to say about it as well.”
Lucas Paqueta problem could snowball for West Ham
Although Paqueta has been far from at his best this season – as a creative midfielder with zero assists by March – he’s still proven a valuable cog for West Ham under both Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter.
With the Hammers having a dearth of options up front for much of this term following long-term injuries to both Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug, Paqueta has at times been used as a makeshift striker too.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2022/04/03/3349100-68462268-2560-1440.jpg)
Paqueta’s impact in this different role for West Ham has been hindered by a lack of physicality, but his return of four goals matches his tallies from the last two seasons with almost a third of the campaign still to run.
However, that could be used as a stick to beat West Ham with if legal proceedings are brought about by the sides he’s scored against this term – and potentially even those who he’s even appeared against.
West Ham will fear a ban of any length – let alone a lifelong one – for their number 10 at the end of his three-week hearing, but the prospect of being sued may spell catastrophe for all at the London Stadium.
