West Ham’s board are said to be baffled by new claims suggesting details of the FA’s Lucas Paqueta verdict may have been leaked.
The development has sparked concern behind the scenes at West Ham, with senior figures understandably questioning how and why any sensitive information might be made public.
It is two years next month since the FA dropped the bombshell news that they were investigating Lucas Paqueta over alleged spot-fixing.
But with another new Premier League season looming just five weeks away, there is still no official verdict in the case against West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico.
Nearly two years since start of FA’s Paqueta investigation
The saga has rumbled on amid claim and counter claim, twice costing the Hammers around £80m and Paqueta a ‘dream move’ to Man City.
It has also badly impacted Paqueta’s mental health according to his own wife.
Duda Fournier hit out at the FA over the Paqueta trial when her husband broke down in tears after being booked in a clash with Spurs towards the end of last season.
The FA are pushing to have West Ham’s record £51m signing banned for life if he is found guilty of deliberately being booked on four separate occasions to influence betting markets.
West Ham's Brazil star Lucas Paqueta bursts into tears after being booked against rivals Tottenham Hotspur
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
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It was recently reported by a leading journalist that a verdict in the Paqueta case was due around the end of June.
But that was two weeks ago and there is yet to be any announcement over the decision of the three-person independent panel.
An angry Hammers boss Graham Potter called for Paqueta case to be concluded in the best interests of all concerned so West Ham could plan their summer transfer window rebuild.
With the Hammers desperate to raise as much funds as possible for Potter’s transfer kitty, Paqueta is expected to be sold if he is cleared of the charges against him.
West Ham board perplexed by new ‘FA leak’ over Paqueta verdict
West Ham and Paqueta were given an almighty scare by news from Italy last month.
Because it was reported an Udinese star is facing a four-year ban for allegedly being deliberately booked in one game.
Paqueta appeared to wave goodbye to West Ham fans in strange fashion after the final game of last season.
But the Hammers returned to pre-season training this week and the 27-year-old has been pictured in training with his teammates as the soap opera continues in the background.
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta is still awaiting the verdict of his spot-fixing case brought by the FA
Credit: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Now the West Ham board has been left perplexed by claims of a new ‘FA leak’ over the Paqueta verdict.
Last season Paqueta broke his silence to demand an investigation by the FA into ‘misleading leaks’ about the case against him, as reported by BBC Sport.
This week it was alleged there had been a new FA leak – although this time it was good news for the Irons and their record £51m signing.
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness claimed Paqueta is set to be acquitted of all spot-fixing charges by the FA.
Wyness, who now heads up a firm which advises elite clubs, claimed his sources had informed him of the FA’s decision to clear the Brazilian midfielder.
The timing of the claims was interesting given the verdict has been expected for several weeks.
‘We certainly don’t’ – Hammers owners baffled by Wyness claims
Hammers News put Wyness’ comments to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners.
And not only did the Hammers have to ask who Wyness was, they insist they are still none the wiser on a verdict and questioned why he would have more inside information than them on the case.
“Who is Keith Wyness?” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.
“We know nothing about any verdict.
“Not sure why he has inside information! We certainly don’t.”
Hammers News exclusively revealed last month that West Ham’s owners believe there is serious interest from Saudi clubs in Paqueta should he be cleared.
The player would prefer a return to Brazil if he does get off the hook.
But Brazilian clubs would struggle to compete with Saudi in terms of a bid to West Ham and the wages they would offer Paqueta.