The eruption on the pitch – two quick yellow cards, a sending-off against Liverpool – wasn’t a moment of impulsive anger for Lucas Paqueta, but a breaking point. It was a visible crack in a composure strained by nearly two years of uncertainty, a direct consequence, he claims, of a governing body’s oversight.
Paqueta didn’t retreat into silence after the dismissal. Instead, he turned to social media, unleashing a raw and powerful statement. He directly linked his on-field lapse to the lack of mental health support during a grueling investigation that cast a long shadow over his career.
The investigation, initiated in August 2023, centered on alleged breaches of betting rules. It wasn’t simply a question of guilt or innocence; it was the relentless weight of the process itself that took its toll. A potential £70 million transfer to Manchester City evaporated, leaving his future hanging in the balance.
Though ultimately cleared of the most serious accusations – spot-fixing charges were deemed unproven – Paqueta was sanctioned for failing to fully cooperate with the investigation. This technicality, a distinction without a difference in his eyes, did little to ease the psychological burden.
“It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation,” he wrote, his words echoing with frustration and a sense of abandonment. “Perhaps this ridiculous behavior is just a reflection of everything I’ve had to endure.”
He acknowledged his actions warranted an apology to his teammates and West Ham supporters, but stressed the immense pressure he’s been under. The dismissal wasn’t an isolated incident, but a symptom of a deeper, unresolved strain.
The red card against Liverpool adds another layer of difficulty for West Ham. Paqueta had just returned from a one-match suspension for accumulating yellow cards, and now faces a further ban, sidelining him for a crucial match against Manchester United.
This isn’t just about a lost game or a suspended player; it’s a stark illustration of the human cost of prolonged investigations and the critical need for mental health support within professional sports. Paqueta’s outburst is a plea, a desperate attempt to highlight a system that, in his view, failed to protect him.
