West Ham United are set to offer midfielder Lucas Paquetá access to psychological support in the wake of his sending-off during Sunday's Premier League defeat to Liverpool. The Brazilian international was shown two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent, leaving his side with ten men for the final stages of the 2-0 loss at the London Stadium.
The Incident and Immediate Fallout
The flashpoint occurred with Liverpool leading 1-0. Paquetá received his first booking for arguing with referee Darren England over a decision, and was then shown a second yellow almost immediately for continuing his protest. His dismissal was heavily criticised internally, with the feeling that he let his teammates down at a crucial moment. The defeat leaves West Ham hovering just above the relegation zone on goal difference.
A Nuanced Situation: The Weight of Investigation
However, the club's response extends beyond mere discipline. There is significant concern that Paquetá is struggling with the aftermath of a protracted Football Association investigation into alleged spot-fixing. Cleared of all charges in July, the 28-year-old faced the prospect of a lifetime ban during the two-year probe. Club sources indicate the experience has left the player "bitter and let down," and they believe the pressure contributed to his outburst on the pitch.
West Ham, who stood by Paquetá throughout the FA investigation, now plan to discuss formal support mechanisms this week to help him regain focus. This comes after the player himself took to social media to voice his frustration at the lack of psychological support from football's authorities during his ordeal.
Player's Public Outcry and Club's Stance
Writing in both Portuguese and English, Paquetá apologised to fans and teammates for the red card but stated it was "hard to live with everything that's been caused in my life and in my psyche." In a pointed reply to a Sky Sports post, he wrote, "It's ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation."
West Ham have noted these posts and are not underestimating their significance. While there is little current appetite to further punish Paquetá for the red card, the club's sympathy is not bottomless. They are in a fierce relegation battle and need their record signing, whose form has been inconsistent this season, to lead from the front. Further indiscipline could force a rethink, with some at the club even advocating for a January sale to raise transfer funds.
An additional concern for manager Nuno Espírito Santo is why more teammates did not intervene to calm Paquetá. Notably, it was Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker who made the most concerted effort to drag the angry midfielder away from the official.
