Lucas Paqueta has escaped having to give evidence to a Brazilian government inquiry into match-fixing, leaving the West Ham forward free to face Leicester tomorrow.
Paqueta was expected to miss Tuesday’s trip to the King Power Stadium as it clashed with a date to give evidence in Sao Paolo.
His lawyers originally negotiated for Paqueta to appear via a video link but now Mail Sport understands he will no longer appear at all.
The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on the Manipulation of Games and Sport in Brazil is a separate inquiry to the Football Association charge against Paqueta over four suspicious yellow cards.
The FA allege Paqueta deliberately got booked in Premier League matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth in 2022 and 2023 with Paqueta due to face a hearing in March which, if found guilty, could lead to a substantial ban.
Paqueta is also under investigation for individual spot-fixing in Brazil but has always protested his innocence.
Lucas Paqueta will not have to give evidence to a Brazilian government inquiry into match-fixing
The FA have investigated suspicious betting patterns surrounding four bookings Paqueta picked up in 2022 and 2023
‘I have instructed my lawyers to write to the FA to request that they conduct a thorough investigation into how information about the case, even if inaccurate, is finding its way into the public domain,’ he posted on social media in October.
Paqueta has started all 13 of West Ham’s league games this season, though has struggled to produce his best with Hammers fans calling for him to be dropped.
The Brazilian gave away a penalty in the 5-2 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday before losing the ball cheaply in midfield in the build-up to the Gunners’ third goal.
Julen Lopetegui’s side head to the King Power Stadium where Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of his first game in charge of Leicester.
‘Ruud is a very good manager, he has showed this in the teams he has worked,’ said the under-pressure West Ham boss. ‘For sure, he is going to develop good work. I wish him the best…but after our match, of course!’
