Major questions raised.
Recently, the Football Association cleared West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá of allegations related to intentional yellow cards. However, the investigation has raised many unanswered questions.
Details: The FA released a 314-page report detailing the investigation, which included strong criticism from an independent commission. The commission accused the FA of lacking independent witnesses, adjusting evidence to support their claims, and unfairly attacking the testimony of Paquetá’s betting expert.
The commission unanimously rejected the charges, stating that the FA’s case was “contradictory” and “illogical.” Furthermore, the defense witnesses, including Paquetá’s former coach David Moyes and ex-referee Mark Clattenburg, were considered more credible than the FA’s representatives. Despite this, the Football Association has decided not to appeal.
Alastair Campbell, the head of Paquetá’s legal team, highlighted that only a thorough defense could clear the player’s name. He also mentioned the potential for suing the FA for damages. It’s important to note that the investigation was a significant factor in Paquetá’s failed transfer to Manchester City.
Reminder: Paquetá was only found guilty of two instances of not cooperating with the investigation in its initial stages. Sanctions for this are expected to be “at the lower end of the scale,” as the player was acting on legal advice.
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