West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been exonerated of spot-fixing allegations by an independent regulatory body, nearly two years after the Football Association (FA) initiated an inquiry into him, as reported by BBC Sport. The FA’s investigation started in August 2023, and Paqueta was charged in May of the previous year for allegedly receiving a yellow card intentionally to manipulate the betting market. The Brazil international faced the risk of a lifetime ban had he been found guilty. The charges were linked to a Premier League match against Leicester City on November 12, 2022, along with subsequent matches against Aston Villa on March 12, Leeds United on May 21, and Bournemouth on August 12, 2023. The regulatory body concluded that these four allegations were “not proven” after the hearing. Additionally, Paqueta faced two charges for not cooperating with the inquiry, violating FA Rule F3 concerning compliance with requests for information and documentation. He denied these allegations, but the commission found them valid and will determine a suitable penalty for these violations soon. Paqueta stated, “From day one of this investigation, I have asserted my innocence regarding these very serious claims. I can’t say more at this moment, but I want to express my gratitude to God and my eagerness to return to playing football happily.” “I want to express my gratitude to my wife who always held my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who continually supported me, and to my family, friends, and legal team who have been there for me – thank you for your unwavering support.” Lucas Paquetá. The ex-AC Milan and Lyon player netted four goals in 33 Premier League matches for West Ham during the 2024-25 season. Paqueta was emotional after receiving a booking against Tottenham in May, with his wife Maria Fournier posting on Instagram that they had been “living this nightmare for two years.” After being charged by the FA last year, he expressed that he was “extremely surprised and upset.” Paqueta transferred to West Ham from Lyon for an initial fee of £36.5 million in August 2022, contributing to the team’s Europa Conference League victory in his first season. West Ham’s vice-chair Karren Brady stated that the club is “pleased” with the outcomes and has “resolutely stood by” Paqueta during this journey. She remarked, “This has been a challenging period for Lucas and his family, but he has maintained professionalism throughout, and he is now eager to move on from this chapter, as is everyone at West Ham United.”
