Lucas Paqueta set to miss crucial West Ham United clash in investigation verdict
Lucas Paqueta will miss the clash against Leicester City on 3 December for West Ham United to appear in front of the Brazilian parliament, according to The Standard.
The news outlet reported on Friday [1 November] via its website, that the Brazilian will appear in front of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry [CPI] as part of the investigation into his four counts of alleged spot-fixing.
Paqueta had been due to give evidence in Sao Paolo this week, however, the CPI agreed to postpone the date until December and now he will be forced to miss the trip to the King Power Stadium as he nears the long-awaited outcome of the investigation.
Lucas Paqueta has not been the same player for West Ham United
Paqueta has denied the allegations of spot-fixing since the FA brought the charges in May, and while his reputation has been somewhat stained both he and West Ham have been greatly affected by the investigation.
The 27-year-old will not plead his case to the FA until March of next year, meaning he will be free to finish the 2024/25 season for the Hammers before an outcome is reached.
Regardless, the weight of the charges brought against him has certainly taken their toll this season, Paqueta has been accused of looking “disinterested” on the pitch, and given the severity of the situation facing the midfielder, he can hardly be blamed for having his head turned to matters off the pitch.
Julen Lopetegui went against his gut instincts and selected Paqueta to start the 2-1 win against Manchester United – a decision that may have done more harm than good as he continued his non-existent form and was subsequently removed at half-time.
With the ongoing CPI and FA proceedings, West Ham supporters can be forgiven for not understanding exactly what all this means for Paqueta.
Regardless, Lopetegui faces a tough decision on what to do with his under-fire talisman. His head is bound to be away from East London among all the noise and perhaps an extended spell away from the side is exactly what Paqueta needs to get his head straight.
In other West Ham news, Paul Merson has predicted the scoreline of the Irons’ clash against Nottingham Forest.
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