West Ham midfielder faces lifetime ban due to betting violations

The Football Association (FA) has brought new charges against West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá for breaching betting regulations, The Sun reports.

From November 2022 to August 2023, Paquetá allegedly received at least four suspicious yellow cards, which reportedly earned around 60 Brazilian bettors a total of £100,000 in profits. Following this, the FA launched an investigation, during which Paquetá's phone was seized to examine his messages, calls, and financial transactions. However, it was discovered that during this time, he purchased a second smartphone to continue placing bets under a different identity. He now also faces charges of obstructing the investigation and withholding information.

The FA is calling for a lifetime ban for the 27-year-old midfielder. A hearing on Paquetá’s case is scheduled for March next year.