First, some context. Lucas Paqueta walked out of the London Stadium tunnel for Sunday’s draw with Tottenham Hotspur holding the hands of his two sons, Benicio and Filippo. They wore West Ham United shirts with ‘Daddy’ and ‘10’ on their backs.
It was arranged as a treat for Filippo after turning four years old. Tomas Soucek gave him a high five as they were lining up, saying: ‘Birthday boy!’ Paqueta’s wife, Duda, filmed it all on her phone like a proud mum would.
It was already a poignant day for Paqueta, therefore, and regardless of your opinion on the 27-year-old Brazilian and the spot-fixing accusations aimed at him via the Football Association, it may help explain why this match in particular carried an extra emotional edge for him personally.
Mail Sport revealed on April 1 how Paqueta was struggling to bear the burden of his betting trial, sources stressing how taxing it was on him. He has received 29 yellow cards since it was revealed the FA were investigating him, or rather 29 overt reminders of the alleged offence which could yet rob him of his career as the footballer accused of being booked on purpose.
Usually, he is fine, that flash of yellow never penetrating his psyche. He commits a foul. He gets a card. He moves on. Mail Sport has mentioned in our previous reporting how West Ham insiders have praised his professionalism, for never bringing his baggage into training or indeed games.
Yet when Michael Oliver showed him that 29th caution since his career was placed under threat of oblivion, he appeared to break down in tears. His shirt turned into a handkerchief. He had to be consoled by Jarrod Bowen, who mimicked Gary Lineker showing concern for Paul Gascoigne in 1990. Manager Graham Potter was alerted to what was happening and substituted Paqueta.
Lucas Paqueta broke down in tears after being carded during West Ham’s draw with Tottenham
The West Ham star still faces spot-fixing accusations aimed at him via the Football Association
Maria Eduarda Fournier shared an emotional statement on social media as she expressed a desire for her husband to be shown more respect, labelling people ‘mean and unfair’
We are told Bowen checked on him further in the confines of the changing room afterwards. He came across as fine by then, though disappointed to have only drawn with a second-string Tottenham side.
Duda broke her rule afterwards. She released a statement describing the last two years as a ‘nightmare’ for her husband. It has indeed been hard for him, and West Ham sources say they suspect the events of the last few weeks may have also contributed to what we saw on Sunday.
Mail Sport broke that Paqueta was being investigated on August 18, 2023. The FA formally charged him on May 23, 2024.
Insiders say Paqueta mentally built himself up for his trial, which began on March 17 of this year. He believed it would last no longer than three weeks and then confirmation would come that he did not do what the FA are claiming.
However, the scale of the evidence being evaluated meant it was not concluded by the end of its allotted three-week timeframe, and the hearing was placed on hiatus.
Mail Sport has been told it will be resuming this month but on varying dates when the tribunal members, plus the council for both sides, are available.
It means Paqueta’s hell is being prolonged, and he is now approaching a summer in which his life could be further turned upside down if he is found guilty. One senior source at West Ham claimed there has been ‘zero account taken of the mental stress on him and his family’ when contacted.
We do not know if Paqueta is guilty or innocent. He himself does not know which verdict will be reached. Those involved in the case say there have been ‘good days and bad days’ but they are still none the wiser as to how it will end.
Paqueta has been fighting to prove he is innocent of picking up yellow cards on purpose during games to influence betting outcomes but faces a lifetime ban if he is found guilty by the panel
West Ham team-mate Jarrod Bowen quickly rushed to Paqueta’s side against Tottenham
Paqueta’s wife Maria Eduarda Fournier claimed they have been ‘living this nightmare for two years’ with the West Ham star awaiting the outcome of a spot-fixing investigation
West Ham insiders fear the odds are stacked against them due to the standard of proof being based on a ‘balance of probabilities’ as opposed to the more rigorous ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’.
The club have never pressured Paqueta to play for them while all this is ongoing.
They have always allowed him to have final say on whether he feels mentally prepared.
On Sunday, we witnessed a human being appearing to buckle under the weight of the last two years, and Paqueta can only hope the FA do not get their way in preventing him from ever walking on to a pitch with Benicio and Filippo again.
