As Lucas Paquetá’s hearing reaches the end of its first week, with the proceedings going on behind closed doors there is very little in the public domain regarding the content of proceedings so far. All we heard early in in the week was that the hearing was likely to last three full weeks as progress was ‘slow’. The stakes of course are enormous with Paquetá set for a life ban if found guilty and the FA having taken nearly a year to bring the charges.
Reported by numerous sources, Paquetá’s manager at West Ham during the alleged incidents, David Moyes, has agreed to give evidence to the hearing.
As outlined in the dailymail.co.uk, for one of the games in question, Paquetá had asked Moyes to leave him out of the August 2023 Bournemouth 1-1 draw: A game in which one of the alleged yellow cards was issued – as his £80 million sale to Manchester City was close.
The Mail reports:
“Moyes spoke with Paqueta at their Rush Green training base in the build-up to that game, explaining he understood how he was feeling but underlining that he intended on using him while he remained his player. The 61-year-old Scot also promised he would keep Paqueta personally updated on the ongoing club-to-club negotiations.
Paqueta agreed to start, but it is said he believed he would be substituted once West Ham were in a comfortable winning position, so as to not jeopardise his City transfer…Individuals close to the case say it is this account which Moyes has agreed to verify on his former player’s behalf as a panel evaluate the evidence which will determine Paqueta’s fate – as the Brazil international with 55 caps hopes to prove he could not have been involved in a card conspiracy if he did not even want to be on the pitch. ‘He will be a strong witness,’ commented one source hoping for a positive outcome for Paqueta on Wednesday.”
Clearly David Moyes’ evidence to the enquiry should be welcomed. The former Hammers’ Manager still holds the club in high esteem and the relationship between the Scot and Hammers’ fans and management is strong – unlike that of Lopetegui who was marched out of the door in January.
As was obvious during West Ham’s trip to Moyes’ new club Everton, the Scot still has a place in his heart for the club and its supporters.
Rare for football, indeed, for former managers – or players for that matter – to leave in civilised circumstances but the respect shown by, and to, David Moyes long after his departure speaks volumes for the man.
- Lucas Paquetá denies all the allegations made against him.
