Paqueta, West Ham’s midfielder, has called on the Football Association (FA) to investigate “misleading” leaks surrounding his betting case.
In May, Paqueta faced charges from the FA, accusing him of deliberately getting booked to manipulate the betting market. However, Paqueta, 27, firmly denies the four charges and argues that “misleading and inaccurate” reports are jeopardizing his chances of a fair hearing.
In a statement posted on X, Paqueta expressed his frustration, saying, “I am frustrated and upset to have read recent misleading and inaccurate press articles, published in both England and Brazil, claiming to disclose information about my case.”
The Brazilian emphasized that much of the information in these reports is entirely false and appears to be intended to undermine his position. “Some of that information is entirely false and appears designed to undermine my position,” Paqueta added.
He also raised concerns that these false and misleading reports seem to come from someone closely involved with the case, which adds to his frustration.
The charges against Paqueta relate to four Premier League matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth, played between November 2022 and August 2023. Despite the ongoing investigation, Paqueta remains eligible to play for West Ham but faces the possibility of a lengthy ban if found guilty of any breaches.
“The FA proceedings are supposed to be confidential and they are extremely serious for me and my family,” Paqueta added in his statement. He expressed that the ongoing leaks of inaccurate information put his opportunity for a fair hearing at risk.
To address the issue, Paqueta has instructed his lawyers to contact the FA, requesting a thorough investigation into how confidential information, even if inaccurate, is being leaked to the media. “I have, therefore, instructed my lawyers to write to the FA to request that they conduct a thorough investigation into how information about the case, even if inaccurate, is finding its way into the public domain,” he wrote.
Paqueta has been a key player for West Ham since joining from French club Lyon in August 2022 for an initial £36.5m. This season, the Brazilian midfielder has scored two goals in seven Premier League appearances.
The FA has yet to comment on Paqueta’s demands. BBC Sport has reached out to the FA for further comment on the issue.
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