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Exclusive: Monumental Paqueta trial twist as FA push for deal but West Ham refuse to budge
Damien Charles Lucas
4 – 5 minutes
West Ham are digging their heels in as Lucas Paqueta’s FA trial for spot-fixing takes a monumental twist.
Hammers News exclusive
The three weeks set aside by the FA to hear the case against West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is up.
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It is among the longest trial periods in the FA’s history as the Hammers playmaker fights to save his career.
Ahead of the trial it was reported the Football Association are pushing to ban Paqueta for life.
West Ham’s £51m record signing has always maintained his innocence.
What next for Paqueta’s FA trial?
‘The Godfather of sports law’, renowned barrister Nick De Marco KC, is part of the team defending Paqueta.
De Marco told West Ham he expects Paqueta to be absolved after week two.
Earlier this week Hammers News exclusively revealed things were looking better and better for West Ham’s Paqueta.
That’s after a gambling expert witness called to give evidence ‘had a really rough time and was not good’.
And a statistician was called to give evidence West Ham and the defence felt confident would ‘tip the whole case’ in Paqueta’s favour.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Monumental Paqueta trial twist as FA push for deal
Now there has been a monumental Paqueta trial twist as the FA push for a deal but West Ham refuse to budge.
Speaking ahead of West Ham’s game against Bournemouth, manager Graham Potter broke his silence on the Paqueta case, as reported on the club’s website.
Potter revealed he had a sit-down chat with the Brazilian in which he declared he loves playing for West Ham and is not being affected by the ongoing case.
Now we might know why.
A top senior source close to the case has revealed the latest on the trial to Hammers News.
And the balance of power seems to be shifting in West Ham’s favour.
West Ham refuse to budge over Paqueta
“So it seems the case is to now be adjourned to resume some time in June,” the top source exclusively told Hammers News.
“The FA are looking to strike deal.
“But West Ham won’t accept any suspension, which the FA want.
“The data guy’s evidence went well I am told.”
The statistician the source refers to reportedly pointed to hundreds of instances that Paqueta committed fouls which did not result in a booking – but which normally would in the Premier League.
West Ham insist Paqueta’s bookings are a result of his style.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
West Ham’s refusal to accept a deal from the FA on what it’s safe to assume would be a reduced suspension is telling.
It suggests the Hammers and Paqueta’s legal team are growing in confidence the £150k per week star will be admonished.
The major update comes after it emerged West Ham and Paqueta could launch a counter case against the FA, headed up by Mark Bullingham, for millions in compensation if he is cleared.
The Hammers will argue they missed out on a big pay day as the allegations resulted in the collapse of Paqueta’s proposed £85m move to Man City.
Hammers and Paqueta could go after mega money compensation
Paqueta would likely have nearly doubled his wages had that move to the Etihad gone through, meaning a potential claim for loss of earnings.
West Ham may also argue Paqueta’s reputation has been damaged as a result of the near two-year saga, meaning his value has dropped dramatically in the time since.
The prospect of being forced to shell out millions may be the reason for the FA’s attempt to broker a deal with the Hammers and their player.
Paqueta should now be free to play out the last eight games of the season before the case is settled one way or another in June.
That’s when the summer transfer window opens between the 1st and 10th and again from the 16th until the start of September.
