West Ham United star Lucas Paquetá is confident of being acquitted of charges labelled against him and not being banned for life.
That’s according to journalist Fabrício Lopes, from the O Dia portal and the Resenha Rubro-Negra channel [via Bolavip](https://br.bolavip.com/amp/flamengo/caso-lucas-paqueta-alvo-do-flamengo-pode-ter-reviravolta-apos-estrategia-da-defesa-diz-jornalista), who says the West Ham midfielder’s defence are confident they can avoid being sanctioned.
Bolavip cover the West Ham man today and how Brazilian side Flamengo are keen to take him back to his homeland.
They, however, are wary of moving as there are still fears he could be banned for life as the trial over alleged betting offences nears.
Paquetá has been charged by English FA over alleged betting offences, with them believing that he deliberately got himself booked as part of a larger scheme. There have also been investigations and trials in Brazil involving the West Ham man’s family members.
Paquetá has denied the charged, which were first brought in October 2023 and continued to deny any involvement in the scheme.
Reports have made it clear, though, that if he were found guilty, he could be banned from football for life. That is the punishment the FA want handed out according to reports.
The trial is currently underway on that front, but Lopes now reports that there is ‘great confidence’ behind the scenes that the 27-year-old will be acquitted.
According to him Paquetá is being represented by Nico De Marco, who Bolavip say is ‘considered the best in the sports world’.
The understanding from him and his team is that there is no material evidence against the West Ham man, or, there is no material evidence that he forced the yellow cards he received to be more clear. Thus, they are confident he cannot be convicted and will be acquitted instead.
That would certainly be good news for West Ham, and even better news for Flamengo, whose transfer idea seems to rest on what happens in this trial.