Lucas Paqueta could miss West Ham's remaining three Premier League matches as concerns grow over the midfielder's mental wellbeing amid his ongoing betting case, reports say.
Senior figures at the London club are considering resting the Brazilian international for the remainder of the season.
The 27-year-old has been visibly affected by the prolonged investigation into allegations he deliberately received yellow cards to influence betting outcomes.
Paqueta faces a potential lifetime ban if found guilty, though he has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the process.
Lucas Paqueta could miss West Ham's remaining three Premier League matches as concerns grow over the midfielder's mental wellbeing amid his ongoing betting case
GETTY
The Samba star broke down in tears after receiving a yellow card during West Ham's 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Sunday.
The emotional moment came in full view of spectators, with the Brazilian needing to be consoled by both West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen and referee Michael Oliver.
Manager Graham Potter subsequently substituted Paqueta moments after the booking.
The incident has heightened concerns about the midfielder's state of mind as he continues to deal with the pressure of the ongoing investigation, according to the Telegraph.
Lucas Paqueta was left in tears after being booked in West Ham's 1-1 draw with Tottenham
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The FA has charged Paqueta with deliberately getting booked in four Premier League matches to influence betting patterns.
These games include fixtures against Leicester in 2022, plus Leeds United, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth the following year.
The situation has been "mentally taxing" on Paqueta.
His FA spot-fixing hearing began on March 17 and was initially expected to last three weeks, but has since been delayed due to the large amount of evidence being evaluated.
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Paqueta's wife, Maria Eduarda Fournier, has spoken out about the toll the investigation has taken on their family.
Writing on Instagram, she said: "We've been living this nightmare for two years and he's ALWAYS strong... he's always had it in his head that he would only defend himself at the right time and place!"
She defended her husband's innocence, stating: "There's NOTHING against him. Have you never noticed that?"
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The couple married in 2018 and have two children together.
West Ham boss Graham Potter addressed Paqueta's emotional reaction in his post-match comments.
"I think he's just a player that's trying his absolute best and wants the situation to be better and probably got a bit frustrated with the action," Potter said.
West Ham boss Graham Potter defended Lucas Paqueta after the Brazilian was booked against Tottenham
PA
He added: "And then you see a human being, not perfect, but I love Lucas. He's given everything and in difficult circumstances he's in as well. He's given everything and he's absolutely fine now."
The hearing is now in a hiatus, with individuals close to the case indicating at least a fourth week will be needed to complete proceedings.
The Daily Mail says the case is not expected to be concluded until the summer due to the complexity of the evidence being reviewed.
