OFF THE SPOT
After nearly two years, the promising news is that those who predicted Lucas Paquetá would be exonerated from gambling allegations can finally claim their winnings. If the strongest measure on the Beaufort scale is 12, you can bet that the sigh of relief from the West Ham midfielder upon his exoneration was at least in the high teens. If found guilty of having deliberately received bookings to benefit certain individuals in Brazil, Paquetá could have faced a lifetime ban from football.
Having narrowly escaped career devastation and potential disgrace, the 27-year-old is now free to continue his football career, unburdened by the heavy weight of accusations placed upon him by the FA two years ago. Although things ended positively, it has been suggested that Paquetá and his legally-driven club could have grounds to sue the FA for legal fees and the considerable financial losses tied to the collapse of his £85m transfer to Manchester City shortly after the investigation began.
“From day one of this investigation, I have upheld my innocence against these severe charges,” stated Paquetá, who did receive minor penalties for not fully cooperating with the inquiry. “I cannot elaborate further right now, but I want to express my gratitude to God and my eagerness to return to the field with a smile.” West Ham, who supported Paquetá throughout his ordeal, is also looking forward to seeing one of their star players back in top form, even if that smile fades slightly when he recalls his contract with the club.
There are rumors that West Ham might consider selling Paquetá while his value remains high, with potential buyers willing to pay a decent price, though one likely half of the amount they initially agreed upon with City. Current speculation suggests that he may end up at Newcastle, who are reportedly looking to secure a significant financial boost, despite having more goalkeepers than midfielders at present.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I’m once again urging Jason Whittingham to finalize the sale. This situation underscores the need for a new football regulator,” stated Lizzi Collinge, Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale. She appealed for action after shareholders announced that Morecambe FC would “officially close” and face “total collapse” within 72 hours without a takeover.
In today’s Rumour Mill, the writer referred to Kieffer Moore as ‘prolific’ for netting 60 goals in 203 Championship matches. Irony can be hard to detect in text, making the assertion challenging to take lightly. His scoring record isn’t poor, but to label it prolific is a stretch; at an average of one goal every 3.4 games, that translates to only about 13 goals over a full Championship season. By this new standard, I could also claim to have had a stellar scoring season during my Primary 5 league,” remarked Paul ‘Goals’ Kenealy.
If you have thoughts to share, please send them to [email protected]. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is… Paul ‘Goals’ Kenealy. For terms and conditions of our competitions, when they occur, click here.
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