West Ham news: Expert taken aback by Lucas Paqueta ‘leak’
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta’s betting breaches case won’t be impacted by the recent leaks in the media.
That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider he’s surprised to learn someone has been leaking information about the case.
The Brazil international was hit with six FA charges in May over alleged spot-fixing surrounding yellow cards received in four Premier League games, but he has continued to deny the allegations.
An FA investigation was prompted after betting activity in Brazil on Paqueta receiving a yellow card in West Ham’s home game against Aston Villa last year.
The governing body kept the 27-year-old’s phone for eight weeks last year while investigators analysed his call log, messages and bank records.
The Sun reported on 8 October the FA went back at a later date to ask Paqueta for more access to his phone to check further details, but he was unable to find it.
Paqueta released a statement on 17 October sharing his frustration at the “continued leaking and publication of inaccurate information in the press”.
The attacking midfielder has instructed his lawyers to complain to the FA about the leaks and wants the governing body to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Leaks likely connected to West Ham star Lucas Paqueta
But Borson doesn’t believe the leaks will have come from the FA.
He told Football Insider: “There shouldn’t be any leaks, it is quite surprising.
“If you are looking for the leaker, you have to think about who would leak it and why. It seems very unlikely the FA would be responsible for the leaks.
“It’s more likely the leak came from somebody connected to the player. But then again, I don’t really understand why somebody would do that.
“I don’t see who gains from any of the leaking of that case, so for the outside world to know about that phone, it’s kind of so what, people like to assume the worst because he’s lost his phone and what that means.
“But the reality is, it makes no difference to what the FA disciplinary is going to hear in respect of this matter. They are going to make their decision regardless of what the public think.
“I don’t know, it’s a bit of an odd one. I find it very hard to believe the leak came from the FA’s side, either from the FA themselves or their lawyers.
“It just seems very unlikely.”
In other news, Insider shares real reason Lucas Paqueta exit collapsed.
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