Rabiu AminuLucas Paqueta Red Card vs Liverpool: Premier League Release Statement
The Premier League Match Centre has explained why Lucas Paqueta was controversially sent off in West Ham United’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Paqueta’s frustrations got the better of him in the 84th minute when he got into a heated exchange with referee Darren England. The Brazilian was first handed a yellow card but continued to argue with the official and was subsequently shown red.
The 28-year-old continued to protest even after being sent off, refusing to leave the pitch without making his feelings known. Once he eventually did head down the tunnel, he left his team a man down, and the visitors capitalised with a second from Cody Gakpo eight minutes later.
Paqueta Red Card ExplainedLucas Paqueta in action for West Ham United
The Premier League Match Centre explained the decision to send Paqueta off. They wrote on X: “The referee issued two yellow cards to Lucas Paqueta – both for dissent.”
The Brazilian was first cautioned for dissent but continued his tirade, leaving referee England with no choice but to give him his marching orders. A clip of the sending off shows what led to the dismissal and how the Hammers’ midfielder was reluctant to leave the field.
English commentator Ian Darke was stunned by Paqueta’s actions and called him “utterly stupid”. He wrote on X:”Brainless from Lucas Paqueta . Impossible to believe a professional footballer at that level can be so utterly stupid with his team fighting to save the match.”
Paqueta will now miss his side’s trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Thursday (December 4). The Red Devils also had a player sent off for dissent back in December 2023, when Diogo Dalot was cautioned and then handed a red card for persistently arguing with the referee in a 0-0 draw against Liverpool.
Premier League official Mike Dean explained at the time: “He has obviously had a go at the referee with his actions and then said something to the referee after the yellow card… He has done it once and received a caution, he has then done it again after the caution to receive a red card.”
Players failing to keep their emotions in check has become a recurring issue in the league this season. On Monday, Idrissa Gueye was sent off for a physical altercation with his own Everton teammate, Michael Keane, in a 1-0 win over United.Lucas PaquetaPaqueta didn’t take long to comment on the situation, taking to X after the defeat to Liverpool to air his grievances. He wrote: “It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation. Perhaps this ridiculous behavior 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.”
The Brazil international is alluding to the Premier League’s two-year investigation into alleged breaches of betting rules. He was cleared of spot-fixing charges in the summer but had recently spoken about how “painful” the ordeal was.
Paqueta was closing in on a move to Manchester City when the investigation began and this caused the Sky Blues to pull the plug on the potential transfer. He has been at the London Stadium since the summer of 2022 when he arrived from French giants Lyon in a £50m deal.
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