Lucas Paqueta breaks his silence with 87-word statement slamming 'entirely false' claims over his ongoing alleged betting breaches probe - which could see West Ham star banned for life

Lucas Paqueta has deed retired astatine ‘entirely false’ accusation being reported astir his betting charges and has called connected nan FA to analyse ‘leaks’ regarding his case.

The West Ham midfielder, 27, was charged pinch spot-fixing successful May and is accused of being deliberately booked successful 4 games betwixt 2022 and 2023.

If recovered guilty, Paqueta could look a life ban. The Brazilian, who denies immoderate wrongdoing, will look a proceeding successful March.

Recent reports claimed nan FA are bringing 2 caller charges for alleged non-cooperation and are accusing Paqueta of obstructing nan investigation, but he dismissed that type of events connected Thursday.

‘I americium disappointment and upset to person publication misleading and inaccurate articles successful some England and Brazil, claiming to disclose accusation astir my case,’ said Paqueta. ‘Some of that accusation is wholly mendacious and appears designed to undermine my position.

‘I americium besides concerned that, though they are false, these articles are intelligibly originated from an individual adjacent to nan case. ‘The FA proceedings are expected to beryllium confidential, and they are highly superior for maine and my family.

‘The continued leaking of inaccurate accusation is putting astatine consequence my chance of receiving a adjacent hearing. I person truthful instructed my lawyers to constitute to nan FA to petition they behaviour a thorough investigation into really accusation astir nan case, moreover if inaccurate, is uncovering its measurement into nan nationalist domain.’