Watch the West Ham booking that has sparked latest EPL gambling storm

English football is struggling to come to terms with another gambling investigation.

Despite the benefits and trickle down effect of the richest league in the world it seems that there are always people on the fringes looking for some more.

Following the injury to Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City stepped up their interest in West Ham’s Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta but suddenly the move has stalled.

There can be many reasons for a transfer halting, Declan Rice’s move across London took almost a fortnight to be completed but the Daily Mail is making some huge claims about issues going on in the background to Paqueta’s move to the treble winners:

Manchester City’s move for Lucas Paqueta is on the brink of collapse because the West Ham playmaker is the subject of a Football Association investigation into alleged betting breaches.

MailOnline revealed on Friday that the £85million-rated Brazilian is being scrutinised amid concerns that the game’s gambling rules have been broken.

It is believed the investigation centres on bets which were placed with bookmakers in Brazil and that they relate to in-game incidents as opposed to the outcomes of West Ham’s matches. Sources yesterday also alleged that the alarm was raised when accounts were traced back to Paqueta Island in Guanabara Bay, which is where Paqueta grew up.

Paqueta and his representatives have yet to comment on the allegations.

The 25-year-old is expected to seek advice from his legal team as the FA’s investigation continues. It is understood Paqueta has yet to be formally interviewed by disciplinary chiefs and that the player is immediately denying any wrongdoing.

This does not look good for Paqueta and West Ham. he’s definitely not beating those allegations pic.twitter.com/cCv5xoXKaV

— Monica (@xmonicamusic) August 18, 2023

In addition to the yellow card, Lucas Paqueta committed 4 fouls in this game vs. Aston Villa, an individual season-high. https://t.co/SgchCbbsPY

— West Ham (C)entral 🏆 (@WestHam_Central) August 18, 2023

The Mail added:

It emerged yesterday morning that talks over that move had collapsed due to ‘confidential’ issues. Sources then confirmed that Paqueta was the subject of an FA investigation. West Ham and the FA declined to comment while FIFA were also contacted.

Paqueta cost a club-record £51m when West Ham signed him from Lyon last summer and he was a key player in their Europa Conference League triumph, assisting Jarrod Bowen for his last-minute winner in Prague.

His impressive performances, including in West Ham’s season-opening 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last weekend, saw him discussed as a temporary replacement for De Bruyne, who faces up to four months on the sidelines after a serious hamstring injury.

Players have faced harsh penalties for the FA’s breaking betting rules. Brentford striker Ivan Toney is the most recent high-profile example as he was banned from football for eight months after admitting 232 breaches. He is not due to return until January 2024.

With so much coverage of in-depth betting it is very easy for bookmakers to detect an irregular pattern of bets.

In December 2022 two Dundee players were arrested but not charged in relation to betting parters in a match against Hearts.