West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá’s footballing future hangs in the balance, with finance expert Stefan Borson warning that the Brazilian could be banned from the sport if found guilty of betting breaches.
Speaking to Football Insider, Borson suggested the severity of the allegations could bring Paquetá’s career to an abrupt end.
Paquetá was charged by the FA in May 2024 with six counts of spot-fixing, with suspicions arising from yellow cards he received in four Premier League matches. The midfielder, however, has denied all allegations.
The investigation has seen the FA take significant steps, including confiscating Paquetá’s phone for eight weeks last year to scrutinise his call logs, messages, and bank records.
According to The Sun, the FA later sought further access to his phone, but Paquetá claimed he could not locate it when asked.
Borson believes the player will be given a fair trial but admitted that the potential consequences are grave.
“I’m sure he will have a fair trial. He’s probably very nervous because clearly if he loses, it’s going to be very hard for him to play again, certainly in the Premier League. I think that would be basically impossible.
“But he might not play again period if he’s done what has been alleged, so you can understand that he’s nervous about it. It’s his entire career.”
The speculation surrounding the case has taken its toll on Paquetá’s performances. Since rumours of the charges began, the Brazilian’s form has noticeably dipped, with his displays deteriorating further after the official charges were brought.
West Ham are struggling under manager Julen Lopetegui, and Paquetá’s dip in form has only compounded their problems.
The attacking midfielder is among the most talented players at the club, and Lopetegui will be desperate for him to rediscover his best form as the Hammers try to turn their fortunes around.