West Ham United footballer Lucas Pacqueta is considering suing the Football Association over the outcome of his betting investigation.
The Brazilian international was close to agreeing a stunning transfer to Manchester City, champions of England at the time, in a move worth around £85m.
A six-year-deal was quoted at the time which would have been a considerable increase in wages, exposure and opportunities at the elite level.
His move was halted by a betting investigation in which he was accused of influencing betting activity by deliberately attempting to receive a card on four occasions in the 2022/23 season.
Pacqueta could fire back
An independent commission cleared Paqueta of four charges in July and now the fallout has led to him, and his legal team, to explore potential legal options moving forward.
Pacqueta’s lawyer, Alistair Campbell, claimed missing out on the move to City was “immeasurable” when it came to the player’s financial rewards.
Campbell told Sky Sports regarding the possibility of Paqueta suing the FA: “It’s something we’re talking to Lucas about and it’s under consideration.
“I would advise him to think seriously about that (suing the FA) as an option. What he’s lost is immeasurable in financial terms.
“If you look at where his career could have gone, how close he was to moving to Manchester City, who then went on to win the Premier League that year, that is a very considerable loss to him, so he will think about it closely.”
A similar incident occured with Sevilla defender Kike Salas; in January, the 22-year-old was detained by police for allegedly getting booked on purpose to ensure his friends could win bets.
There is limited information on the case, but Spanish publication Marca posted new evidence that showed leaked text messages using fake profiles and third-party accounts to conduct his business.
The wider industry context
Cases like these may cast further shade over the commercial the public relations between betting and football, something which has already been facing a lot of pressure in the UK over the past few years, including before, during and after the review into the Gambling Act.
The Premier League is introducing a self-imposed ban on front-of-shirt betting deals from the 2026/27 season onwards, but some campaigners want to see things go further, including calling for government action – cases like the Pacqueta investigation may add further fuel to the fire.
