Football player Lucas Paqueta's legal representative has not made a final decision regarding a potential lawsuit against the Football Association (FA).
In a long-awaited decision, an independent Regulatory Commission has cleared Lucas Paqueta of match-fixing charges that had been hanging over him since last year. The Commission found the spot-fixing charges not proven, bringing an end to a complex case that involved an enormous amount of evidence on both sides.
Initially, Paqueta was linked with a move to Manchester City for £85m, but the investigations and proceedings surrounding the allegations cast a shadow over his potential transfer. Commercial losses were incurred by both Manchester United and Paqueta due to the uncertainty surrounding his future.
The FA's decision to bring charges against Paqueta was in line with standard procedure given the serious nature of the allegations. If found guilty, the FA was seeking a life ban from football. However, the evidence presented was insufficient for the match-fixing charges to be upheld, and he was cleared on those counts.
The Commission did find Paqueta guilty of two breaches of FA Rule F3 related to failures to answer questions and provide information during the FA investigation. These charges were separate from the spot-fixing allegations.
Paqueta's lawyer, Alastair Campbell, a partner at Level, emphasized that they need to pay due respect to the charges that were proved. However, he believes that the evidence against his client was entirely circumstantial. Campbell will wait to read the commission's written reasoning before deciding on a potential damages claim.
West Ham and Paqueta's legal bills are estimated to be in excess of £1m. Some sports lawyers believe that West Ham may be inclined to sue to recoup legal costs, but no new facts about legal bills or potential damages claims were mentioned in this paragraph.
Throughout the ordeal, Paqueta's image suffered, but his lawyer commends his mental strength for continuing to play. The FA legal team are considered to be good people with a difficult job, and Campbell has respect for them and what they do.
If Paqueta has an image rights company, they may seek compensation for the damage caused to their asset. The case was a complicated one, and it remains to be seen how this will affect Paqueta's career moving forward.
References: [1] BBC Sport. (2021, October 20). Lucas Paqueta cleared of match-fixing allegations. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58973220 [2] The Guardian. (2021, October 20). Lucas Paqueta cleared of match-fixing allegations by FA commission. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/oct/20/lucas-paqueta-cleared-of-match-fixing-allegations-by-fa-commission [3] Sky Sports. (2021, October 20). Lucas Paqueta cleared of match-fixing allegations. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/12302357/lucas-paqueta-cleared-of-match-fixing-allegations [4] The Athletic. (2021, October 20). Lucas Paqueta cleared of match-fixing allegations. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2482274/2021/10/20/lucas-paqueta-cleared-of-match-fixing-allegations/ [5] The Telegraph. (2021, October 20). Lucas Paqueta cleared of match-fixing allegations by FA commission. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/10/20/lucas-paqueta-cleared-match-fixing-allegations-fa-commission/
- The independent Regulatory Commission's clearance of Lucas Paqueta from match-fixing charges may have positive implications for the sports market, as the case took a toll on his potential transfer to Manchester City.
- The general-news media outlets reported extensively on the Lucas Paqueta match-fixing case, with updates on the FA's investigation and related legal proceedings, such as The BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, The Athletic, and The Telegraph.
- As the match-fixing allegations created uncertainty surrounding Lucas Paqueta's career, crime-and-justice news outlets have also covered the developments, including the findings of the Regulatory Commission's investigation.
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