Paquetá Apologises After Costly Red Card, Blames FA For Lack Of Psychological Support

Lucas Paquetá issued a heartfelt apology on social media just hours after his controversial red card condemned West Ham United to a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at the London Stadium. 

The Brazilian midfielder’s dismissal in the 72nd minute for two quickfire yellow cards – the second for dissent – left his side with ten men and unable to recover, as Alexander Isak marked his first Premier League goal for Liverpool on the hour and substitute Cody Gakpo sealed the points in stoppage time.

The match, played under crisp autumn conditions, saw Liverpool capitalize on key moments to secure their first win in four games across all competitions, propelling them to eighth in the table, just two points shy of the top four.

The first half unfolded as a cagey affair, with both sides probing for openings but failing to truly threaten. West Ham, managed by Nuno Espírito Santo, relied on counter-attacks to test Liverpool's defense, while the Reds, missing talismanic forward Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup, struggled to convert possession into clear chances. The scoreline remained deadlocked at the interval, setting the stage for a pivotal second period.

The game's turning point arrived just past the hour mark in the 60th minute, when Alexander Isak broke his Premier League duck for Liverpool with a clinical finish, slotting home from close range after a well-worked move involving midfield interplay from Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Isak's goal, his first in English football since joining from Newcastle United, injected momentum into Slot's side and exposed West Ham's fragility at the back.

Compounding the hosts' woes was the dismissal of midfielder Lucas Paquetá in the 72nd minute, a moment of high drama that shifted the balance decisively. Initially cautioned for a cynical foul on Ryan Gravenberch, the Brazilian playmaker then vented his frustration at referee Darren England, earning a second yellow—and thus a red card—for dissent within seconds. 

Paquetá's protests, described by former West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green as "completely irresponsible," left his team a man down and visibly rattled, as players from both sides attempted to de-escalate the situation.

Liverpool duly exploited their numerical advantage, adding a second goal in stoppage time through Cody Gakpo, who rifled in from the edge of the box after a swift counter initiated by Federico Chiesa. The late strike sealed a hard-fought victory, ending West Ham's three-match unbeaten streak and leaving them languishing in 17th position, with mounting pressure on Espírito Santo to arrest their slide.

Post-match, Paquetá took to social media to address the incident in a candid and emotional post on X, formerly Twitter, where he apologized while lashing out at the Football Association amid his ongoing spot-fixing investigation.

 "It's ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation," he wrote, quoting footage of his sending-off. "Perhaps this ridiculous behavior is just a reflection of everything I've had to endure and, it seems, have to continue enduring! I'm sorry if I'm not perfect."

 The 27-year-old, who has denied all charges in the protracted probe that began in 2023, later elaborated on the toll of the scrutiny, stating, "I understand that now I must look like the villain. It is hard to live with everything that has happened in my life and in my mind. I will keep trying so that these things do not affect me even more."