West Ham plan to provide Lucas Paquetá with psychological support following his red card for dissent in Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool. While the club is unhappy with his behaviour—two yellows for dissent in seconds—they also recognise the emotional toll of the FA’s two-year spot-fixing investigation, which cleared him only in July.
Figures at the club believe Paquetá has been left “bitter and let down” by the ordeal and that the pressure contributed to his outburst. He later apologised but criticised football authorities on social media for offering no mental-health support during the investigation.
Paquetá will miss Thursday’s trip to Manchester United due to suspension. West Ham, fighting relegation, need their record signing to regain focus and consistency. His form has dipped, and some at the club believe he may need to be sold in January to fund new signings.
There is also concern that teammates did little to restrain him during the incident—Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson intervened more decisively than West Ham players. For now, the club is prioritising support over punishment but expect Paquetá to show improvement as they battle for survival.
