Paquetá's defense, ex-Flamengo, believes the player can be acquitted

The trial of Lucas Paquetá , accused of involvement in match-fixing in England , has been ongoing since March 17. However, the defense of the midfielder, who came through the youth ranks of Flamengo , remains optimistic about the acquittal of the West Ham player.

According to the English profile West Ham Central, specialized in coverage of the London club, Paquetá's lawyers believe that the lack of conclusive evidence should lead to a favorable outcome for the athlete.

Case could ban Paquetá from football

The trial, which could last around three weeks, is expected to deliver a verdict between the end of this week and the beginning of next week. The English Football Association (FA) is seeking the maximum punishment for the player, asking that he be banned from football.

The complaint came after an alert about an unusual volume of bets made on Paquetá Island, the midfielder's birthplace. According to The Sun, 60 users specifically bet that the player would receive yellow cards in West Ham games, with values ranging from R$47 to R$2,700, generating significant profits.

Paquetá denies the accusations

Since the beginning of the investigations, Lucas Paquetá has publicly defended himself and reaffirmed his innocence .

"I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me. For nine months I have cooperated at every stage of the investigation and provided all information. I deny the charges in full and will fight with all my might to clear my name," the player said.

The Brazilian's last match for West Ham was on March 15 , against Everton, in the English Championship. On that occasion, he played for 83 minutes and received a yellow card in the 1-1 draw.