Lucas Paqueta ‘Nonsense’ blasted after potential punishment revealed for West Ham United star
Frank McAvennie has pleaded with the FA not to “ruin” West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta’s career and has taken aim at betting rules for players.
Paqueta has been charged with four counts of spot-fixing – where a player is said to intentionally earn a booking for betting purposes – and could face a lifetime ban if he is found guilty.
And McAvennie – speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone – believes the FA should get the player help instead of ending his career.
“I don’t agree with all this,” he said. “It depends, if he was betting on himself to do something, he deserves to be punished. But banning people for having a bet on Real Madrid against Barcelona? What a lot of nonsense that is. You can’t affect that game. So why are they coming down on you? He’s a grown man, you know?
“If [he’s gotten booked on purpose] then he’s got to get punished. But do you have to ruin somebody’s career because of it? I’m not sure. Show me somebody who’s not made mistakes.
“Get him help, that would be the best advert you can get. But don’t ruin the boy’s career because of it. For making a stupid mistake like that.”
How will West Ham United be affected if Lucas Paqueta is banned for life?
If Paqueta is found guilty of spot-fixing, his professional career is likely to be all but ended by a ban that could be as long as 10 years or even for life.
That would be a significant blow for West Ham, who would essentially be losing one of their best – and most saleable – players for nothing.
Manchester City have held an interest in the player since last summer but the prospect of a potential ban has prevented them from making a move for the Brazilian.
West Ham are hoping to overhaul their squad and playing style under new head coach Julen Lopetegui and Paqueta would be useful either as a means of generating funds or as a piece of the puzzle at the London Stadium.
To have that taken away from them would be a bitter blow indeed for the club as they seek to return to the European stage playing a more attractive, possession-dominant brand of football than they did under David Moyes.
In other West Ham news, McAvennie has told Lopetegui told to copy Aston Villa next season.
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