Qudus SalihuWest Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá was at the centre of one of the most remarkable incidents of the Premier League season, receiving two quick-fire yellow cards for dissent late in his side’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. The bizarre nature of the dismissal, where the Brazilian refused to back down from referee Darren England, left commentators stunned and sparked a rare explanation from the league’s official channels.
The Premier League Match Centre confirmed the decision, stating simply: “The referee issued two yellow cards to Lucas Paqueta – both for dissent.” This seemingly straightforward explanation, however, fails to capture the fiery emotion of the moment, where Paquetá’s prolonged protestations—even after his teammates and the opposing goalkeeper Alisson tried to calm him—forced the official’s hand.
The incident was compounded by Paquetá’s furious reaction post-match, where he took to social media to lash out at the football authorities. In an extraordinary outburst, the 28-year-old linked his “ridiculous behaviour” to the stress of a two-year FA investigation into alleged spot-fixing, of which he was recently cleared.
”It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation,” he wrote, apologising to fans and teammates but suggesting his actions were a “reflection of everything I’ve had to endure.”
The sending-off was a pivotal, brainless act that left the Hammers with ten men and cost Paquetá a suspension, but his subsequent, deeply emotional statement has turned a disciplinary issue into a flashpoint about the mental toll of life under investigation, creating a moment the Premier League has truly never seen before.
Rabiu Aminu
