West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is baptised as he anxiously awaits verdict for spot-fixing trial which could see him face LIFETIME ban
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta has been baptised amid an anxious wait for the result of his FA spot-fixing trial.
The Brazilian has been awaiting a verdict for nearly two years after an investigation into whether he intentionally collected cautions in four Premier League fixtures began in August 2023.
Paqueta was charged by the FA in May 2024 and could face a lifetime ban if he is found guilty.
The trial cost the 27-year-old a £80million move to Manchester City and West Ham boss Graham Potter admitted it had taken a mental and physical toll on the midfielder.
He insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing and his wife Maria Fournier previously claimed the couple have been 'living this nightmare for two years'.
The trial finally concluded last week but West Ham were warned it could take another four to eight weeks for Paqueta's fate to be revealed.
The 27-year-old was baptised amid an anxious wait for the result of this spot-fixing trial
As he nervously waits to see if his Premier League career is over, Paqeuta was baptised in front of his wife and Flamengo forward Pedro Guilherme.
Wife Fournier shared snaps of the baptism, which took place in a swimming pool, alongside the caption: 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, EVERYTHING HAS BECOME NEW!
'My husband was born again!!'
Paqueta's trial has been described as the most high‑profile corruption case in English football since Bruce Grobbelaar was acquitted of conspiring to fix five Premier League games in a criminal trial 27 years ago.
The attacking midfielder could be banned for life if the panel examining the evidence decide he was involved in a conspiracy to collect cards in order to influence betting outcomes.
While there is not yet any indication over whether he will be found innocent or guilty once the verdict arrives, West Ham sources have long feared the odds are stacked against them due to the FA's standard of proof being based on a 'balance of probabilities', which is usual in civil cases, as opposed to the more rigorous 'beyond a reasonable doubt' for those accused of criminal offences.
Paqueta broke down in tears during one home game with Tottenham towards the end of last season when he received a yellow card, in a sign of the toll being taken on him.
He did not start another game for West Ham under manager Potter after that Spurs incident.
Mail Sport revealed that Paqueta was being investigated on August 18, 2023 and the FA formally charged him on May 23, 2024 with four counts of spot-fixing and two of obstructing their investigation.
Insiders say Paqueta mentally built himself up for the beginning of his hearing on March 17, originally believing it would last no longer than three weeks.
However, the scale of the evidence being evaluated meant it was not concluded within that timeframe, and further complications arose when it had to be placed on hiatus, seemingly because of scheduling issues surrounding those involved.
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