Lucas Paqueta criticizes continued press leaks as betting investigation drags on

Lucas Paqueta has spoken out about sharing “inaccurate information” in relation to the betting allegations made against him.

The Football Association has charged the West Ham United star after allegedly giving him a deliberate warning. He has been under investigation since last summer when suspicious betting patterns came to light.

Recent reports suggested the Brazil international would be summoned to a hearing in his home country later this month, while others claimed the 27-year-old could face a lifetime ban if found guilty.

Paqueta, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial and said he was “extremely surprised and upset” when the news first broke, has now appealed to the FA to investigate the leaks as they would damage his case .

Post on social mediaPaqueta wrote: “I am frustrated and angered by reading misleading and inaccurate press articles recently published in England and Brazil claiming to reveal information about my case. Some of this information is completely false and appears intended to undermine my position.” I also fear that these articles, although false and misleading, clearly come from a person familiar with the case.

“The FA proceedings are intended to be confidential and are extremely serious for me and my family. The continued leaking and publication of inaccurate information in the press now jeopardizes my chance of a fair hearing.”

“I have therefore instructed my lawyers to write to the FA asking them to carry out a thorough investigation into how information about the case, even if inaccurate, comes to the public.”

“I continue to deny the allegations against me and look forward to proving my innocence.”

West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui recently revealed he has not spoken to Paqueta about the allegations, telling reporters: “I don’t want to put that kind of responsibility on a player. He has to give his best in the offensive phase and in the defensive phase.

“When he focuses on defensive work, he is a much better player and we try to encourage him to focus on both defense and offense.”

“We don’t talk about it [the charges]. We talk about football, about the next game and about life. But not about that.”

Paqueta has started six Premier League games so far this season, scoring two goals, and played for Brazil during the October international break.

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