Lucas Paqueta took to social media after he was sent off for two quick bookings for dissent during West Ham United's 2-0 home loss to Liverpool
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United reacts after being shown a second yellow and subsequent red card by Referee, Darren England during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium on November 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Lucas Paqueta is held back by Liverpool goalkeeper and Brazil international team-mate Alisson Becker after his sending off for West Ham United
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Lucas Paqueta admits his bizarre red card against Liverpool was “ridiculous behaviour”. But the West Ham United midfielder used his dismissal to again point the finger at a lack of support during the two-year investigation into allegations of spot-fixing.
Paqueta received two yellow cards and a subsequent red from referee Darren England with six minutes remaining for a continued show of dissent after disagreeing with an initial foul given for a challenge on Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool, who were ahead through Alexander Isak’s 60th-minute strike, went on to secure a 2-0 Premier League with an injury-time Cody Gakpo goal at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
And Paqueta later took to social media to again highlight what he believes was a shortage of support during his time under investigation, with the Brazilian eventually cleared during the summer.
“It's ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation,” he said.
“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.”
Asked about the red card, West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo said shortly after the final whistle: “It’s hard to play against a team like Liverpool with one man less.
“I won’t go much further with comments, allow me to speak first to Lucas to try to understand. It’s unfair to comment without a chance to speak to him.”
Of the game, Nuno added: “We started the game well. The first half saw both teams have their moments, and we had a couple of moments where we got in behind and created situations.
“But we didn’t have the accuracy required, whether it was with the pass, the cross or a shot. We were in the game and competed well.
“Then in the second half we conceded when we were in the best moment we had, with a good spell of possession and combinations.
“It comes from a throw-in, which is a disappointing way to concede. We kept trying and kept fighting until the end but it was disappointing.”
Shortly before the match, it emerged former West Ham captain and manager Billy Bonds had died at the age of 79.
And Nuno added: “All of us felt the bad news we had, he was someone who means a lot for us as a club, he had almost 800 appearances and he means so much for our fans.
“I don’t quite believe it affected the team, but it affected the general mood. We felt it.
“We wanted to do something that would honour his memory but unfortunately it was not to be.”