FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Ipswich Town - London Stadium, London, Britain - October 5, 2024 West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Jarrod Bowen REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File Photo
(Reuters) - West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has asked the Football Association to investigate how information from its case against him over alleged breaches of betting rules has been leaked to the media.
Paqueta was charged in May with deliberately seeking to receive a booking during four Premier League games in 2022 and 2023, in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.
The 27-year-old Brazilian denies the charges against him.
"I am frustrated and upset to have read recent misleading and inaccurate press articles, published in both England and Brazil, claiming to disclose information about my case," Paqueta said in a statement posted on social media.
"I am also concerned that, although they are false and misleading, these articles are clearly sourced from an individual close to the case. The FA proceedings are supposed to be confidential.
"I have, therefore, instructed my lawyers to write to the FA to request that they conduct a thorough investigation into how information about the case, even if inaccurate, is finding its way into the public domain."
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Toby Davis)
