West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been charged by the FA for breaching betting rules.
The Brazilian has been charged in relation to bookings he picked up in four different Premier League games against Leicester Aston Villa and Leeds in 2022-23 and Bournemouth at the start of last season.
He was interviewed by the FA last September after an investigation was triggered by suspicious betting activity around the stoppage-time yellow card he recieved against the Cherries in August.
An FA statement read: “West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of FA Rules E5 and F3.
“The player has been charged with four breaches of FA Rule E5.1 in relation to his conduct in the club’s Premier League fixtures against Leicester on 12 November 2022, Aston Villa on 12 March 2023, Leeds on 21 May 2023, and Bournemouth on 12 August 2023.
“It’s alleged that he directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.
“Paqueta has also been charged with two breaches of FA Rule F3 in respect of alleged failures to comply pursuant to FA Rule F2.
“The player has until June 3 2024 to provide a response to these charges subject to any request for an extension to this deadline.
“The FA will be making no further comment until the conclusion of this case.”
Paqueta is the third Premier League player in the last two seasons to be charged for betting offences after Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali.
Brentford striker Toney finished serving an eight-month ban in Jaunary, while Newcastle midfielder Tonali is currently serving a 10-month ban which ends in August.
