Brazilian defender Emerson Palmieri has revealed what it was like in the West Ham dressing room as Lucas Paquetá was accused of being involved in a betting scandal.
The defender has been discussing his career this week, including what it was like being at West Hamm during that period.
Paquetá was at the centre of a high-profile and complex corruption case that spanned several years after the FA formally charged the Brazilian midfielder in May 2024.
They alleged that Paquetá had intentionally sought and received yellow cards in four specific Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023. The plot was to manipulate betting markets for the financial benefit of others.
FA sought big ban
Had he been found guilty, the FA intended to seek a lifetime ban from the sport. The impact on Paquetá was enormous. For instance, the fallout of the investigation saw a proposed £85m move to Manchester City collapse in August 2023.
The player maintained his innocence throughout, and was effectively exonerated by an Independent Regulatory Commission tribunal. They unanimously ruled that the FA’s case was not proven in a 314-page judgement – the longest sports ruling in history.
He was completely cleared of spot-fixing. But he was later found guilty of two minor misconduct charges for failing to comply with the investigation.
However, he commission rejected the FA’s push for a heavy fine, instead issuing only a formal warning and reprimand while ordering the FA to pay 90% of the legal costs. The FA did not appeal and the case was closed.
West Ham impact
But the damage was done, with Paquetá later leaving West Ham to return to Brazil in January 2026. That came just six months after he was cleared of the charges in July 2025.
The midfielder openly admitted that the case had taken a severe strain on his mental health. Palmieri now admis that it was not easy for everyone else at West Ham either.
“It was very tough because it caught us all by surprise,” he told 365 Scores.
“Being close to him, I was taken aback when these kinds of allegations started to surface. And then we saw the scale it reached. He was facing the possibility of a suspension—or even a lifetime ban from football. He was deeply saddened by everything that was being linked to his name.
“As a friend, I always tried to help—to keep his mind off things, especially since it was a situation beyond his control. What he could control were his actions. How he conducted himself off the pitch with his family, and how he played on the pitch.
“I believe that’s where he found the joy to keep going and to set aside the problems happening outside of football.
“My role was to help him stay focused, perform well for West Ham, and eventually earn his way back into the Brazilian national team. In the end, his innocence was proven.
“It was worth standing by his side and helping him through that difficult time. Now, I just hope he continues to play well and remains happy.”
