Sports lawyer shares new Lucas Paqueta ban update after West Ham United development
West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta could be facing a “career-ending” ban if found guilty by the FA for betting breaches, according to Dan Chapman.
The FA announced on Thursday (24 May) that the Brazilian international has been charged with four alleged breaches of the betting rules in Premier League games between November 2022 and August 2023.
Although the Hammers star has denied these allegations, leading sports lawyer and partner at Leathes Prior, Chapman insists that if Paqueta is found guilty he will face an “extremely substantial ban”.
As quoted by HITC on Friday (24 May) they said: “The FA’s position in their sentencing guidelines is that the starting point for a breach of FA Rule E5.1 is a lifetime ban, and that only in exceptional circumstances should a ban be anything else.
“Much will be made of the 10-year ban given in 2022 to Kynan Isaac, a non-league player who was found guilty of intentionally seeking a yellow card so for betting purposes.
“Having read the decision of the independent regulatory commission in that case, it is noteworthy that Isaac was found guilty of seeking a yellow card in one fixture only but that he was heavily criticised for his conduct and lack of cooperation with the regulatory process.
“We can assume Paqueta will cooperate and will be aided by legal representation of the highest standard.
“What is clear is that, if found guilty, it is hard to imagine Paqueta would not be facing an extremely substantial ban, and that the FA will be bound to seek a lengthy ban and one that in reality would likely be all but career-ending.”
Will West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta be banned?
These allegations have been looming over the London Stadium for almost a year, but no one associated with West Ham could have ever imagined the prospective punishment would be so severe.
While nothing has yet been proven and the Brazilian international will have the best legal support on offer, you would have to imagine that the FA will have a strong case to lobby this accusation in the first place.
Although it will be a massive blow to the Hammers in more ways than one if these allegations are found to be true, it is only right that Paqueta should be punished just as Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali were previously.
Hopefully, the midfielder will be able to dodge the sort of ban that Chapman has mooted. One thing that is certain is that this case is far from over.
In other West Ham news, Simon Jordan has shared his immediate reaction to the appointment of Lopetegui in East London
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