West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been charged by the Football Association for allegedly getting booked deliberately “for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market”.
The charges relate to a Premier League game against Leicester City on 12 November in 2022, plus 2023 fixtures against Aston Villa on 12 March, Leeds United on 21 May and Bournemouth on 12 August.
An FA statement said: “It’s alleged that he [Paqueta] directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.”
Paqueta said he was “extremely surprised and upset” by the charges, and denies them.
The 26-year-old Brazil midfielder has until 3 June to “provide a response to these charges subject to any request for an extension to this deadline”.