West Ham braced for lifetime ban for Lucas Paqueta as Brazil star expected to lose fight against spot-fixing allegations

According to The Daily Mail,the case against Paqueta is being assessed under the civil law standard of proof, known as the "balance of probabilities," rather than the stricter "beyond a reasonable doubt" requirement used in criminal cases. This means the Football Association (FA) only needs to establish that it is more likely than not that the 27-year-old intentionally sought yellow cards to manipulate betting markets.

West Ham insiders have criticised the process, calling it "savage" and "very wrong" that a player’s entire career could be jeopardised by a decision made on a marginal 51 percent probability. The FA's Regulatory Commissions handle such cases under this civil standard, making it a significant hurdle for the club and the player to overcome.

The FA formally charged Paqueta with misconduct in May 2024, alleging that he deliberately received yellow cards in four separate Premier League matches to facilitate betting wins. These incidents reportedly occurred in games against Leicester City in November 2022, Aston Villa in March 2023, Leeds United in May 2023 and Bournemouth in August of the same year.

Despite the challenges, West Ham have continued to stand by Paqueta, showing unwavering support in an effort to clear his name. The player himself has remained steadfast in his denial of the accusations, expressing his determination to prove his innocence. Proceedings are expected to begin this month and could extend over a three-week period. However, it has been confirmed that Paqueta will be allowed to continue playing for the Hammers while the hearings are ongoing.

As the legal battle unfolds, both the player and his club remain hopeful of a resolution that will allow him to continue his footballing career without sanctions. Paqueta has been absent from the West Ham lineup since their loss to Brentford due to an ankle injury. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit for selection when the team face Newcastle United on Monday.