West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta in trouble with Nuno after icy 25-word verdict
Lucas Paquetá appears to have landed himself firmly in Nuno Espírito Santo’s bad books after the West Ham manager delivered a frosty, 25-word assessment of the Brazilian’s red card—while supporters have taken issue with his emoji-filled social-media apology as well.
There is rarely a quiet moment in the unpredictable, often chaotic world of West Ham United. Even so, the club managed to generate yet another storm during their defeat to Liverpool—one which, for many fans, was as frustrating as it was familiar.
A lifeless performance overshadowed by Paquetá’s meltdown
While West Ham’s play has lacked spark for much of the last two seasons, their display at Anfield was particularly uninspiring. Liverpool, clearly struggling for form and confidence after losing nine of their previous 12 matches, were there for the taking. Yet the Hammers barely laid a glove on them.
Despite the team’s sluggishness, Lucas Paquetá ensured the match would be remembered—not for any moment of brilliance, but for one of the most needless and self-inflicted dismissals the Premier League has seen this season.
Two yellow cards, one baffling meltdown
With West Ham trailing only 1–0 and still very much in the contest, Paquetá somehow managed to pick up two bookings in the space of seconds for dissent toward referee Darren England. At 84 minutes, when calm heads were essential, the midfielder appeared determined to argue his way into trouble.
Although he had struggled to exert real influence, Paquetá was still among West Ham’s more lively players on the day. But his contribution turned destructive when he repeatedly ignored attempts from his teammates—and even fellow Brazilian Alisson Becker—to pull him away from the official. His refusal to let the matter drop resulted in a second yellow and an early walk down the tunnel as West Ham slumped to a 2–0 defeat.
The timing could not have been worse. The 28-year-old had only just returned from a one-match suspension after accumulating five yellow cards earlier in the campaign. And after enduring a draining two-year investigation into spot-fixing allegations—charges he was cleared of in August—many fans expected him to show renewed discipline and leadership. Instead, he left his teammates short-handed yet again.
Paquetá will now miss West Ham’s crucial trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, a match loaded with significance as the club fights to avoid being dragged deeper into a relegation battle.
Nuno’s frosty response: “Allow me to speak with him first”
Attention inevitably turned to Nuno Espírito Santo for his reaction. The head coach looked visibly stunned on the touchline when Paquetá was dismissed, and his post-match comments suggested a manager far from impressed.
When asked by BBC Sport about the red card—with the interviewer bluntly framing it as “Paquetá gets himself sent off”—Nuno offered a clipped, tense response.
“Look, I’m not going to go much further,” he said. “I understand your question, but allow me to speak with Lucas first and try to understand… why.”
He paused deliberately before repeating the word “why,” emphasising his frustration. His stern expression left little doubt that a difficult conversation awaits the midfielder.
Nuno refused to elaborate further, even when speaking to the club’s own media team, reinforcing the sense that Paquetá has seriously tested his manager’s patience.
Fans, pundits—and now emojis—add fuel to the fire
If Paquetá was hoping for sympathy from supporters, he didn’t find much. Many West Ham fans vented their anger online, calling his behaviour selfish and irresponsible. Former West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green was equally direct during commentary, labelling the midfielder “ridiculous.”
Paquetá reacted to a Sky Sports clip of Green’s criticism by suggesting he had received inadequate psychological support during his lengthy spot-fixing case, arguing that the ordeal had taken a significant toll on his mental health.
He later issued a more formal apology to fans and teammates, acknowledging that his actions were unacceptable. But even this attempt at reconciliation managed to spark controversy.
At the end of his apology on X, Paquetá added two emojis:
a palm tree on a beach—commonly used to symbolise a holiday or break, and a party popper, which typically denotes celebration.
To many supporters, attaching “holiday” and “celebration” symbols to an apology after a costly suspension felt tone-deaf at best—and deliberately provocative at worst. Some fans already suspected he had picked up his earlier fifth yellow card deliberately to trigger a suspension and secure a rest; the emojis only reinforced those suspicions.
Trouble brewing ahead of a critical period
If Paquetá believes a suspension will grant him a breather, Nuno’s icy reaction suggests otherwise. With West Ham flirting with the relegation zone and tensions growing within the squad, the manager is unlikely to tolerate distractions—especially from one of his most influential players.
Paquetá’s talent is undeniable, but so too is his capacity to create turmoil. Having finally emerged from the shadow of his spot-fixing investigation, a moment that should have marked a fresh start now threatens to drag him into a new controversy—one that could prove costly both for his reputation and for a West Ham side already under immense pressure.