West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has launched a stunning public attack on the Football Association, accusing the governing body of failing to provide adequate support after he was sent off during his team's defeat to Liverpool.
The Incident and Immediate Fallout
The flashpoint occurred on Sunday 30 November 2025, during West Ham's 2-0 loss against Liverpool at Anfield. The Brazilian international was shown a straight red card not for a foul, but for dissent towards the match officials.
Following the match, an emotionally charged Paqueta took to social media to voice his frustrations directly at the FA. In an extraordinary rant, the player specifically accused the association of failing to offer him "psychological support" during a tumultuous period.
A Deeper Context: The Two-Year Investigation
This outburst did not occur in a vacuum. It comes in the wake of a major two-year FA investigation into spot-fixing allegations against the player.
Paqueta was cleared of all charges in July, but the lengthy process had significant professional consequences. Most notably, the investigation prevented a potential multi-million pound transfer to Manchester City two summers ago, a move that collapsed due to the ongoing probe.
Club Reaction and Next Steps
Back at his club, West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo addressed the situation with caution. The manager confirmed that he would be holding a private conversation with Paqueta to fully understand the player's state of mind and the circumstances leading to his social media post.
Nuno's statement suggests the club is now dealing with the internal fallout from the incident, seeking to manage a key player who appears to be under significant mental and emotional strain.
