Lucas Paquetá opens up on betting accusation: “It was hard to smile” | OneFootball

Lucas Paquetá returned to Flamengo after a period of ‘turbulence’ in Europe

The biggest signing in Flamengo history, Lucas Paquetá went through a difficult time in the 2024/25 season. That is because the midfielder faced an accusation over alleged involvement with sports betting. About a year after being cleared, the Flamengo player opened up and revealed how he dealt with the situation.

— It was something that affected me more professionally, but it ended up completely affecting our relationship. It was hard to smile, to play with the children. That was killing me. That moment hurt a lot,” said Paquetá during the program ‘Convocadas’.

What happened to Lucas Paquetá?

Lucas Paquetá was charged in May 2024 over alleged involvement in a betting scheme. The English Football Association accused the player of violating conduct rules regarding sports betting. According to the report, the midfielder manipulated outcomes in four Premier League matches.

The FA even sought to have the player banned, but the Regulatory Commission concluded that there was not enough evidence. Therefore, with the decision announced on July 31, 2025, Paquetá returned to playing normally and got back on the pitch with the case closed.

Why did Paquetá return to Flamengo?

Even after being cleared, Lucas Paquetá did not feel comfortable continuing in English football and, as a result, asked to return to Flamengo. Thus, after weeks of negotiations, the Rubro-Negro paid 42 million euros (R$ 245.6 million) to West Ham (ENG) to sign the midfielder.

In addition, Lucas Paquetá and Flamengo agreed to a five-year contract, that is, until 2031. Since returning to Fla, the midfielder has made 24 appearances and scored eight goals.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.