While most footballers are enjoying their summer breaks or prepping for pre-season, Lucas Paqueta is turning to faith for strength.
The West Ham midfielder has just been baptised, marking a deeply personal milestone during what has arguably been the most turbulent period of his career.
And it’s all happening while he awaits a verdict that could decide the future of his time in football.
The Long Road of Allegations
It’s been almost two years since allegations first surfaced against Paqueta, accusing him of deliberately getting booked in four Premier League games.
The Football Association launched an investigation in August 2023, and by May 2024, the Brazilian was officially charged.
The consequences have been huge. Paqueta’s big-money transfer to Manchester City—worth around £80 million—collapsed.
West Ham manager Graham Potter has since opened up about how the ordeal has taken a significant toll on his player, both mentally and physically.
“We’ve Been Living a Nightmare”
Throughout the process, Paqueta has firmly denied any wrongdoing.
His wife, Maria Fournier, hasn’t stayed silent either—she described the last two years as a “nightmare” for their family.
Despite the weight of the situation, the couple are clinging to hope and faith.
That faith was symbolised recently when Paqueta was baptised in an intimate ceremony held in a swimming pool.
With Flamengo forward Pedro Guilherme in attendance, Maria posted emotional photos with the caption:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, EVERYTHING HAS BECOME NEW! My husband was born again!!”
A High-Stakes Case Like No Other
This isn’t just another disciplinary hearing.
Paqueta’s case has been described as one of the most high-profile corruption probes in English football since Bruce Grobbelaar’s trial nearly three decades ago.
If found guilty, the 27-year-old could face a lifetime ban from the sport.
The charges are serious—four counts of spot-fixing and two of obstructing the investigation.
The FA’s approach uses the civil standard of proof—“balance of probabilities”—which is notably less stringent than the “beyond reasonable doubt” used in criminal court.
That technicality has left West Ham insiders feeling anxious about Paqueta’s chances.
An Emotional Toll on and off the Pitch
Fans saw just how much the case was affecting Paqueta when he broke down in tears after receiving a yellow card during a home game against Tottenham late last season.
That yellow card may have been just one of many, but it was a public sign of the private pressure he’s under.
Following that emotional breakdown, Paqueta didn’t start another game under Potter.
Behind the scenes, he was also mentally gearing up for the hearing, which kicked off on March 17.
Initially, he was told it would last just three weeks.
But things didn’t go to plan.
Delays, Complications, and a Nervous Wait
The trial dragged on longer than expected due to the volume of evidence being assessed.
Additional delays emerged from scheduling issues with the people involved, which forced the proceedings to pause unexpectedly.
The hearing finally wrapped up last week—but there’s still no clarity.
West Ham has been warned that it could take anywhere from four to eight weeks for the panel to reach a verdict.
So, What Happens Next?
Now, all Paqueta can do is wait. Will he be cleared and get a fresh start? Or will this case end his Premier League career altogether?
As he faces this critical crossroads, Paqueta appears to be leaning on something bigger than football—his faith, his family, and a belief in a second chance.
Whether or not the FA agrees remains to be seen. But for now, Lucas Paqueta is holding on to hope.