Paquetá makes impassioned outburst after Liverpool Red card saying ‘It’s ridiculous to have your life affected for two years’.
Paquetá launches outburst at football authorities after West Ham red against Liverpool.
West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá blasted out at a lack of “psychological support” from football officials, in an unexpected internet rant in the wake of his inexplicable sending-off late on during his side’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who was placed in limbo for two years amid a Football Association investigation into spot-fixing claims, was issued two yellow cards, both for dissent, within seconds of one another by the referee Darren England.
Players from both sides had tried to quiet Paquetá’s protests following the initial caution, but after seemingly being successfully escorted away, he returned to harangue the referee once more and was sent off.
The Brazil international was finally exonerated of the FA accusations in July but the case certainly forced a planned £70m move to Manchester City to stall in the summer of 2023.
Writing in Portuguese on X, Paquetá initially said: “I understand that now I have to come across as the villain; it’s hard to live with everything that’s been caused in my life and in my psyche! I’ll keep trying to ensure they don’t affect me even more. This doesn’t justify my expulsion, and for that I apologise to the fans and my teammates!”
This time writing in English, Paquetá posted: “It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation. Perhaps this ridiculous behaviour is just a reflection of everything I’ve had to endure and, it seems, have to continue enduring! I’m sorry if I’m not perfect.”