Lucas Paqueta has always claimed his innocence in the spot-fixing case against him, now the West Ham star intends to prove it.
Lucas Paqueta has had to toughen up a lot since moving to West Ham.
Now in a show of true east end grit, if Paqueta is going down, he’s not going down without a fight.
The Brazilian magnifico returned to Hammers training this week all smiles.
It remains to be seen whether he will be available for West Ham’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United on Monday night.
But he arguably has bigger things on his mind right now.
The hearing for the illegal betting case that has been hanging over Paqueta since the summer of 2023 is now fast approaching.
On Wednesday night it was announced Paqueta’s trial will start this month.
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A three-person panel will decide the fate of West Ham’s £51m record signing and highest paid player ever.
The trial will last three weeks and is set to be one of the longest of its kind in Football Association history.
Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images
Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images
FA want Paqueta banned for life
West Ham have been rocked by the FA’s stance ahead of the trial.
Because it has been claimed that the FA are now pushing hard to have West Ham playmaker Paqueta banned from football for life.
The FA, headed up by CEO Mark Bullingham, has declined to comment on the claims or the trial.
West Ham are also staying tight-lipped.
Paqueta himself reiterated what he has maintained all along, that he is innocent.
Speaking via Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol, Paqueta said he won’t rest until he has cleared his name.
West Ham star Paqueta maintains innocence
The positive news for the Hammers is, he will be in good hands.
Because West Ham star Paqueta has brought in a big gun to fight the FA as Brazil leave him out.
Whether it is because he has only just returned from injury or down to the fact his trial is now imminent, Brazil announced their latest squad overnight and Paqueta isn’t in it.
In the recent past Paqueta has welcomed meeting up with the national team as it has provided a nice distraction from his trial.
The Hammers ace will remain in east London, though, ready for his case to be heard.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Paqueta brings in big gun to fight FA as Brazil leave him out
And he has hired one of the top sports lawyers around to fight his corner.
Hammers News understands Paqueta’s entourage have brought in renowned barrister Nick De Marco KC.
You may not recognise De Marco’s name, but you will be aware of some of the cases he has fought.
De Marco KC is actually one of the most important figures in the current legal soap opera that is the Premier League and English football.
With litigation around every corner – and now one of West Ham’s star players on trial by the FA, Paqueta has brought in the man dubbed ‘The Godfather’ of sports law.
De Marco’s successes include representing former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy in his £11m claim for unpaid wages from Man City.
‘Godfather’ of sports law in West Ham star’s corner
It was De Marco who led Leicester’s defence when they were charged by the Premier League over PSR breaches.
West Ham fans should take note of that case. Because much to the league’s disappointment and the surprise of most in the game, an independent panel decided it had no jurisdiction to hold the case, sparing the Foxes a potential points deduction.
De Marco, a QPR fan, also represented Ivan Toney in his own, less serious, betting case.
The man who will now fight to clear Paqueta’s name – and preserve what is at least a £20m asset for West Ham – estimates he has worked for more than half of the Premier League’s clubs in various forms.
Some of those cases never reach the public domain.
One thing is for certain, this one very much will be.