Lucas Paquetá issued a blistering response after his dismissal in West Ham’s 2–0 defeat at Liverpool, releasing an emotional 46-word statement condemning football authorities and pundits who had labelled his conduct “ridiculous behaviour”.
The Brazilian midfielder was shown a second yellow card at Anfield after protesting an initial booking for a foul, with his dissent prompting an immediate red and leaving West Ham to finish the match with 10 men.
Paquetá’s frustration did not ease in the hours that followed.
Instead, he took to social media to vent at what he described as a two-year ordeal linked to his long-running regulatory case with the Football Association.
“It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation,” he wrote.
“Perhaps this ‘ridiculous behaviour’ is just a reflection of everything I’ve had to endure and, it seems, have to continue enduring! I’m sorry if I’m not perfect.”
He followed that with a longer statement in Portuguese, later translated by supporters, in which he stressed the strain of the process.
Lucas Paqueta was furious after his red card in West Ham’s defeat to Liverpool
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“I understand that now I have to look like the villain; it’s difficult to live with everything that has been caused in my life and in my mental health!” he posted.
“I will continue trying to prevent them from affecting me even more. This does not justify my expulsion, and for that I apologise to the fans and my teammates!”
Paquetá’s remarks came after he avoided the most severe sporting sanction available – a life ban – when an independent FA regulatory commission determined that spot-fixing allegations against him had not been proven.
Five facts about the Premier League | PA/GETTY/REUTERS/GBNEWS
The case centred on suspicious betting patterns in several West Ham matches from 2022 and 2023. The panel concluded that the FA had not met the burden of proof required to establish wrongdoing.
However, Paquetá was found guilty of two breaches of FA Rule F.2 for failing to comply fully and promptly with requests for information during the investigation.
The commission accepted that delays were caused partly by his reliance on legal advice and the complexities of retrieving data from overseas devices.
He also eventually provided a detailed witness statement explaining his relationship with acquaintances who had placed bets, and surrendered multiple mobile devices for forensic examination.
Given those mitigating factors, and noting Paquetá’s previously clean disciplinary record, the commission opted for a low-end sanction: a formal reprimand and warning about his future conduct.
The midfielder avoided a fine, though he was ordered to pay 10 per cent of the case’s administrative costs, with the FA covering the remainder.
Lucas Paqueta will miss West Ham’s clash with Manchester United on Thursday following his red card against Liverpool
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The panel also considered the collapse of his potential move to Manchester City in 2023 – a transfer that unravelled as the investigation became public – as a significant personal and professional consequence.
Meanwhile, West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo said he would talk with the player about his conduct.
“I’m not going to comment too much. First of all I’m going to speak to Lucas and try to understand his frustrations and his behaviour,” he said.
“We need all the player and we are going to need them until the end of the season.
“Every player out, we’re going to miss them.”
West Ham are next in action against Manchester United on Thursday (8pm).
