West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been exonerated of spot-fixing allegations
West Ham's Lucas Paqueta Cleared of Spot-Fixing Charges
After a two-year investigation, Lucas Paqueta, the midfielder for West Ham United, has been cleared of spot-fixing charges by the Football Association (FA). The charges, which were brought in May 2024, alleged that Paqueta deliberately incurred yellow cards in four Premier League matches to benefit illegal betting linked to individuals in Rio de Janeiro.
The investigation, which spanned the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons, focused on allegations that Paqueta deliberately received warnings to influence the betting market. The FA charged him with four alleged breaches involving Premier League fixtures between November 2022 and August 2023.
However, following a hearing that concluded at the end of April 2025, the independent regulatory commission found the charges not proven. Despite this, two charges against Paqueta, related to a failure to co-operate with the FA's investigation, were found proven. The FA will decide an appropriate sanction for these breaches at the earliest opportunity.
Paqueta's legal team, led by Alastair Campbell, expressed delight at the clearance. Campbell stated, "We are delighted that we were able to demonstrate Lucas Paqueta's integrity throughout this process." Paqueta himself released a statement on Instagram, maintaining his innocence against the serious accusations. He expressed gratitude to God, his wife, West Ham United, and the fans for their support during the difficult time.
West Ham United's vice-chair, Karren Brady, praised Paqueta for his professionalism throughout the process. She expressed her pleasure with the clearance and stated, "Lucas has maintained his innocence from the outset and has performed well for West Ham United despite the pressure."
The FA is awaiting the written reasons from the independent commission in relation to its decision on the charges and will not comment further until that time. It is worth noting that the FA had sought a lifetime ban but appears to have handed down a verdict close to "not guilty."
Meanwhile, the FA is considering a boycott of social media over racism. No further comments have been made about this potential boycott, and it remains to be seen how it will affect the football community.
With the spot-fixing allegations now behind him, Paqueta can now focus on playing football and being with his family without the distraction of these serious accusations.
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Lucas Paqueta, after being cleared of spot-fixing charges, can now shift his focus to European leagues, particularly the Premier League, where his football career continues to unfold. Unrelated to this case, the FA is also considering a boycott of social media over racism, potentially influencing the overall football community.
