WEST HAM fans weren’t the only ones baffled by Lucas Paqueta arguing his way to a red card on Sunday.
Even Liverpool star Curtis Jones couldn’t hide his confusion when Paqueta’s 83rd-minute barney with referee Darren England reduced the Hammers to 10.
It’s not uncommon to see players celebrate when their opponents go a man down.
A small fist-pump from Jones certainly wouldn’t have looked out of place at the London Stadium, where Liverpool held a slender one-goal lead at the time of Paqueta’s dismissal.
But instead, Jones held both arms out in an apparent show of bewilderment.
It may also have had something to do with the fact that Jones was one of the players trying to calm Paqueta down before his second booking.
‘DISGRACE’
Moment brawl erupts on footie pitch before punches thrown outside changing rooms
Welcome offer
Get a £50 welcome bonus when you join Sun Vegas and spend £10
The Brazilian initially picked up a yellow for protesting Niclas Fullkrug’s foul on Dominik Szoboszlai.
The second came moments later when he lost his rag with England, ignored the pleas of his team-mates and continued ranting in the ref’s face.
Paqueta’s conduct was labeled “completely irresponsible” by Sky Sports commentator Don Goodman, and Cody Gakpo went on to secure the points for Liverpool in stoppage time.
Jones’ curious reaction wasn’t lost on Liverpool fans.
One wrote on X: “Why is Curtis Jones appealing the red card? Man, we have too many nice players in this squad.”
Another posted: “Just bizarre from Curtis Jones. Appeared to be appealing the red for Paqueta.”
And a third chimed in with: “Curtis Jones actually throws his hands in the air as Paqueta gets shown the red card.”
Paqueta will now be banned for the clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The fiasco took another turn when the West Ham star wrote on X after the game: “It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation.
“Perhaps this ‘ridiculous behaviour’ 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.”
A second statement, written in Portuguese, read: “I understand that now I have to look like the villain; it’s difficult to live with everything that has been caused in my life and in my mental health!
“I will continue trying to prevent them from affecting me even more.
“This does not justify my expulsion, and for that I apologise to the fans and my teammates!”
Paqueta escaped a lifetime ban earlier this year when an independent regulatory commission found that allegations of spot-fixing could not be proven.
Read the full article here
