West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta faces a lifetime ban from football if he is found guilty of betting charges, according to finance expert Stefan Borson.
The Brazilian has been a fantastic player for the Hammers since arriving from Lyon back in 2022, providing moments of genuine class in midfield, and registering 27 goal contributions (13 goals and 14 assists) in 84 appearances.
Sadly, Paqueta has been rocked by betting allegations that have come his way, with the 26-year-old even being accused of deliberately getting booked in a game.
Speaking to Football Insider, Borson claimed that Paqueta’s career could effectively be over if he is found guilty of the breaches, with the case expected to be a long and drawn out affair:
“Complicated and important cases take a long time. It’s a matter of fairness that he’s given the opportunity to defend himself with the benefit of whoever hears the case being able to hear from witnesses and being given the relevant evidence.
“If this case goes against Paqueta, he’s likely to effectively lose his career. It doesn’t surprise me that people are taking their time with due process. The lawyers on both sides will be making sure that all of the relevant evidence compiled is heard by the relevant panel.
“Given that this is a multi-jurisdictional issue and clearly will therefore have language issues involved in it, which will probably require translations of witness statements and that sort of thing, I don’t think it’s a big shock that it’s going to take a long time. It’s just such a serious issue for the player that people should be prepared to allow that process to run its course.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit with a media or a football timescale, but some things are more important than that. This is his career that is in jeopardy here, so it’s just very important that he’s given the opportunity to defend himself.”
Borson’s comments further outline the severity of Paqueta’s case, and it would be such a crying shame to his career ended because of these allegations.
That’s not to say that it isn’t his own fault, but to see such a talented footballer cut down in his prime would be sad to see, considering how much more he still has to offer.
For now, it looks as though no decision will be made for the foreseeable future, meaning that Paqueta can continue playing for West Ham next season, and the hope is that he manages to stay focused enough to perform well on the pitch.
