West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá has been officially warned by the Football Association (FA) for his conduct following a red card against Liverpool, but he will avoid an extended ban beyond the one-match suspension he serves for the sending-off.

Incident Overview

The 28-year-old Brazilian received two yellow cards in quick succession from referee Darren England during West Ham’s 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. Both cautions were issued for dissent, as Paquetá persistently argued against a foul decision awarded to Liverpool.

Before leaving the pitch, Paquetá continued to dispute the decision and sarcastically applauded the referee, drawing further attention to his on-field behaviour.

In a statement, the FA said:
“As guidance, we’ve issued West Ham United’s Lucas Paquetá with a warning and reminder of his responsibilities for the on-field incident that followed his red card at the Premier League fixture against Liverpool on Sunday, 30 November.”

The warning means that Paquetá serves his standard one-match suspension, ruling him out of Thursday’s Premier League clash at Manchester United, but no further disciplinary action will be taken.

Context: Past FA Investigation

Paquetá’s reaction has been partly attributed to the stress stemming from a spot-fixing investigation brought against him by the FA in 2024. He was accused of deliberately receiving yellow cards to influence betting markets—a charge that could have resulted in a lifetime ban from football.

However, in July 2025, an independent regulatory commission found the four charges “not proven”, effectively clearing him. Despite this, Paquetá received a reprimand and warning for failing to fully comply with the investigation at the time.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo commented on the impact of the investigation:
“I think it is affecting him, but he is willing to move forward, to try and put this aside and continue to play football in the way that he does.”

Paquetá’s lawyer described the clearing of charges as “an enormous weight off his chest”, while his wife previously noted that the family had been “living this nightmare for two years.”

Current Form and Suspension

Paquetá was returning from a one-match suspension on Sunday, which he served after accumulating five yellow cards in the league. He missed West Ham’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth prior to the Liverpool defeat.

The FA’s warning now serves as a reminder for future conduct, reinforcing the expectation that players maintain professionalism, even under personal or emotional strain.

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Key Takeaways

• Lucas Paquetá warned by the FA for dissent but avoids further suspension.
• Red card came during West Ham’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
• Paquetá’s reaction partly linked to stress from past FA spot-fixing investigation.
• Suspended for one match, missing Thursday’s game at Manchester United.
• FA emphasizes professional conduct and on-field discipline moving forward.