West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta is to appear at a hearing over alleged betting fraud.

According to Sky Sports News, the three-week hearing into alleged match-fixing offences will be one of the longest trials in the history of the Football Association (FA), which is seeking a life ban for the player.

Evidence of Paqueta’s alleged match-fixing emerged back in 2023 after the midfielder was accused of deliberately receiving cards from referees in several Premier League matches in order to influence the betting market and allow individuals to profit from linked bets.

The FA has charged the Brazilian with four breaches of FA Rule E5.1 in relation to his conduct in the club’s Premier League matches against Leicester City on 12 November 2022; Aston Villa on 12 March 2023; Leeds United on 21 May 2023; and AFC Bournemouth on 12 August 2023.

At the time of the charges, the FA said Paqueta intended to “influence the course, conduct or any other aspect or event at those matches by deliberately attempting to obtain a card from the referee for the improper purpose of influencing the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.”

The West Ham midfielder was soon charged with two further breaches of FA rules for failing to comply with information and document requirements.

In 2023, Paqueta’s phone was confiscated for two months as part of an investigation into his texts, calls and banking history. Although the FA eventually returned the phone, they later requested it back for further background checks. However, the Brazilian midfielder has since disposed of it and has not been able to locate it.

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