The Observer's Rory Smith says he has "sympathy" for what West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta "has been through" but his red card on Sunday cannot really been justified.
Paqueta said on X that his "ridiculous behaviour" that resulted in a red card in the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool was a "reflection of everything I've had to endure".
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA near-two-year Football Association investigation into the midfielder ended in July when he was cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission.
On Sunday, Paqueta was shown two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent by referee Darren England for arguing over a decision to award a foul against his team with six minutes left to play.
"I have sympathy for what he has been through and he is right to point out how it has affected him," said Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "But there were so many points where he could have just walked away.
"To the point where Alisson - who does not play for West Ham - even tried to stop him from talking himself into a red card.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"That would suggest with them both being Brazilian that he is aware of some form of pressure he is under, or that his friend is struggling - but it was such a strange sending off."
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[BBC]
[BBC]
