West Ham have been dealt a significant blow in the latest surrounding the ongoing betting allegations against Lucas Paqueta.

The Brazil international has been under the spotlight now for over 18 months, following an investigation being launched over alleged spot-fixing, with suspicious bets being placed on the former Lyon player to be booked in certain matches.

Paqueta is set for a hearing with the FA this summer, with serious concerns that he could well be banned for life if found guilty.

The latest developments in Brazil, where the CPI there are undertaking their own investigation into the matter, paint a very bleak picture which will undoubtedly reduce the levels of confidence of a positive outcome for the Paqueta camp.

Bruno Lopez de Moura – who is suspected as the mastermind behind the scheme, is reported to have said that Paqueta would take a yellow card on the match against Aston Villa on 12th March 2023, as a birthday present for his brother Matheus – who’s birthday is on 12th March.

The latest development is a huge blow to Paqueta and in particular West Ham, who are now facing the very real possibility that the club record signing is walking towards a very serious punishment – if of course he is found guilty.