West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta could miss a crucial match in December as he’s been summoned to appear before Brazil’s parliament regarding an ongoing betting investigation.
The Brazilian international has already been charged by the Football Association (FA) with four counts of spot-fixing. The FA alleges that Paqueta was deliberately booked in matches against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Bournemouth to influence betting markets.
Just last month, Paqueta publicly denounced the “entirely false” information circulating about the betting charges and urged the FA to investigate potential leaks regarding his case.
Lucas Paqueta is expected to face a hearing in March 2025. The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for his future at West Ham.
The Samba Boys midfielder ace has vehemently denied all charges against him and has vowed to clear his name while also maintaining his full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Originally scheduled to testify before Brazil’s Commission of Inquiry on the Manipulation of Games and Sports Betting this week, Paqueta’s legal team successfully secured a postponement.
However, a recent ruling has mandated his appearance before Brazilian senators on December 3rd, the same day as West Ham’s Premier League match against Leicester City. This development could potentially force Paqueta to miss the crucial clash.