West Ham Midfielder Lucas Paquetá Cleared of Spot-Fixing Charges by FA After Full Investigation

Huge relief to Lucas Paquetá’s fans; they are finally at ease after an independent regulatory commission cleared Paquetá of the spot-fixing charges. The 27-year-old midfielder was at risk of a lifetime ban if found guilty. According to the BBC, the Football Association (FA) began its investigation in August 2023, charging Paquetá May 2024 for allegedly receiving yellow cards on purpose.

Paquetá is a skilled midfielder who began at Flamengo in 2016 and played for AC Milan and Lyon, then joined West Ham in 2022. He has played 92 matches and contributed 12 goals for West Ham and helped the team win the Europa Conference League.

[Trending] Victory at Last: The Hard-Fought Clean Sheet

Paquetá was alleged to have intentionally tried to receive yellow cards for the improper purpose of influencing the betting market and was formally charged in May 2024.

The No.10 winger for West Ham United drew the FA’s attention after his performances in four Premier League fixtures.

• Leicester City on 12 November 2022
• Aston Villa on 12 March 2023
• Leeds United on 21 May 2023
• Bournemouth on 12 August 2023

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Thanks to Paquetá’s loyalty, he was proven innocent against FA charges, and the regulatory commission gave him a clean sheet after the hearing.

However, the Brazilian international faced two charges for not cooperating with the investigation, violating FA Rule regarding the submission of information and documents.

He denied the allegations, but the regulatory commission ruled them substantiated and will soon decide on the penalty.

[What’s Happening] Lucas Paquetá Expresses Gratitude to Supporters During Tough Times

After being cleared, the first thing he did was thank his supporters and well-wishers.

 

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A post shared by Lucas Paquetá (@lucaspaqueta)

Taking to Instagram, he wrote:  “THE ENEMIES WILL COME AGAINST US ONE WAY, BUT THEY WILL FLEE 7 WAYS. Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations. I can’t say anything more now, but I also can’t express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.

To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham, to the fans who always supported me, to Fernando Malta and my legal team at Level (Alastair Campbell, Jonathan Hyman, Dan Lowen), Nick De Marco KC, and Kendrah Potts—thank you for everything. ALL GLORY AND HONOR BE TO GOD! A COMPLETE WORK.”

Also, the football has been actively reposting supportive tweets on X, showing appreciation for everyone who stood by him.

On the other side, West Ham United also released a statement after the regulatory commission pronounced him not guilty. “The Club has stood by Lucas since the very start of a long and difficult process,” said West Ham United.

Further, Vice-Chair Karren Brady stated: “We are pleased Lucas has been cleared. He has maintained his innocence from the outset, and as a Club we have resolutely stood by him and supported him throughout the process.”

The statement also highlights Paquetá’s emotional readiness to move forward, as he said, “How eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.”

Amit Mishra’s Take

Justice has finally been served!! After months of uncertainty, Lucas Paquetá can now move forward with a clear mind and a clean slate. It’s time for him to return to what he does best, playing football.

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