West Ham star Lucas Paqueta has slammed the FA following his latest sending off, claiming his “ridiculous behavior” on the pitch was a direct reflection of the emotional and psychological strain caused by the governing body’s long-running investigation into his conduct.
The Brazilian midfielder was recently sacked after receiving two rapid-fire yellow cards for dissent during the club’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Following widespread criticism from experts and fans, Lucas Paqueta claimed on social media that he directly linked his disciplinary action to the lack of support he received during his nearly two-year legal ordeal.
The FA condemns Lucas Paqueta’s sending off against Liverpool
The turning point came when Paqueta responded to critical posts online and issued a forceful statement accusing the FA of lacking mental health support following his ordeal during a betting-related investigation.
He posted on X:
“It’s ridiculous that two years without any emotional support from the federation affected my life and career. Perhaps this ridiculous behavior is just a reflection of everything I had to endure and probably continue to endure! I’m sorry if it’s not perfect.”
Paqueta earlier apologized to West Ham supporters and team-mates in a separate message, acknowledging that his actions on the field did not warrant his dismissal, but stressed that the current situation has had a huge impact on his mental health.
The long-running FA investigation took a toll on Paqueuta.
Paqueta’s emotional reaction stems from the FA’s investigation into alleged breaches of gambling regulations, which began in August 2023.
The saga stalled his career and led, most notably, to the cancellation of a reported £70m transfer to Manchester City.
An independent regulatory commission ultimately found the four core match-fixing charges unproven earlier this year, but the midfielder was sanctioned for failing to comply with two requirements to provide information to the investigation.
Although this distinction spared him the most serious charges, it does not appear to have alleviated the stress associated with the protracted process.
More suspension blows to West Ham
The 28-year-old only returned from a one-match suspension on Sunday after accumulating five yellow cards in the league, and missed last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
Due to his red card against Liverpool, he will miss another tough game for the Hammers against Manchester United.
