EXCLUSIVE: Bookmakers suspend bets on Lucas Paqueta over integrity issues raised by FA investigation into West Ham star
- Some UK bookmakers have suspended card betting on Lucas Paqueta
- The action was taken on legal advice during an investigation into the star
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Britain’s largest bookmakers have suspended betting on Lucas Paqueta over integrity concerns. Mail Sport have been told that at least six major companies, including West Ham shirt sponsor Betway, have withdrawn the Paqueta yellow card market on legal advice.
The sudden move has been described by industry sources as a short-term measure to protect bookmakers following Mail Sport’s revelation a fortnight since the FA is investigating suspicious gambling activity surrounding bookings received by Paqueta, leading to the failure of a £10 transfer. 85 million to Manchester City.
This paper went on to reveal the three bookings under scrutiny, which came in last season’s Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa and Leeds, and in West Ham’s opening game of the season against Bournemouth.
West Ham sponsor Betway took many of the initial suspicious bets ahead of the club’s home game against Villa last March, which they reported to anti-corruption officials.
The online betting company has responded by suspending all betting on West Ham players booked in the Premier League at Luton on Friday night.
Britain’s biggest bookmakers have suspended betting on Lucas Paqueta (pictured) over integrity concerns
The FA is currently investigating suspicious gambling activity around bookings received by Paqueta (left)
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In addition, William Hill, Bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power and SkyBet have all removed the markets on Paqueta to be booked.
The widespread market suspensions are believed to be decisions taken independently by bookmakers following talks with their legal departments this week, in which the FA was not involved.
Bookmakers were slow to react to news of the Paqueta inquiry, with Betway making him their favorite for a yellow card in West Ham’s next game against Chelsea two days later, which he was.
However, the FA is likely to welcome the bookmakers’ belated moves as they lobby for all yellow card markets to be removed on integrity grounds, as Mail Sport reported last week: West Ham declined to comment.