Lucas Paqueta has been under scrutiny for much of the past couple of seasons due to his ongoing spot-fixing investigation, and emotions seemed to boil over for the Brazilian during West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Sunday.
Paqueta concluded a three-week court hearing last month over allegations of spot-fixing, with the 27-year-old accused of breaching betting rules linked to four yellow cards received between November 2022 and August 2023.
With no verdict reached, however, the case has been adjourned until at least later this month, meaning the cloud of uncertainty still hangs over the midfielder.
The Brazilian picked up a yellow card in the 73rd minute for a foul on Mikey Moore, ultimately provoking an emotional reaction in the player who was visibly upset as a result of the decision.
Such an emotional reaction for a booking is quite a strange sight in the Premier League, but with the accusations Paqueta has faced over the last year, it makes it somewhat more understandable.
Paqueta’s problems off the pitch taking their toll
Paqueta’s wife, Duda Fournier, took to Instagram on Sunday defending her husband, suggesting they’ve been “living a nightmare for two years.”
Fournier said: “My husband has a posture and strength that I admire and that IMPRESSES me.
“I just wish people would respect him.. People are mean and unfair, without knowing ANYTHING!”
According to the Daily Mail, the yellow card brandished to Paqueta by Michael Oliver on Sunday reminded the player of his current situation which subsequently caused him to cry, with emotions understood to already be high after walking out onto the pitch with his sons Benicio and Filippo.
West Ham boss Graham Potter also commented on Paqueta’s reaction: “I think he’s just a player that’s trying his absolute best and wants the situation to be better and probably got a bit frustrated with the action.
“And then you see a human being, not perfect but I love Lucas, he’s given everything and in difficult circumstances he’s in as well. He’s given everything and he’s absolutely fine now.”
In what’s been a tough season both on and off the pitch for Paqueta, this release of emotion is both understandable and a clear indication of the difficulties he’s facing at the moment.
