LONDON, UK – Brazilian international and West Ham United midfielder, Lucas Paqueta, has been officially cleared of all spot-fixing allegations by an independent Football Association (FA) regulatory commission, ending months of intense scrutiny over his conduct in several Premier League matches. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, has been widely welcomed by the club, fans, and the player himself, who faced the threat of a career-ending lifetime ban from football.
Paqueta, 27, was accused by the FA of intentionally influencing match outcomes by attempting to receive yellow cards in games involving betting irregularities. The matches under investigation included West Ham’s Premier League fixtures against Leicester City (November 2022), Aston Villa, Leeds United, and AFC Bournemouth during the 2022/2023 season.
The FA charged Paqueta with four separate breaches of its betting integrity rules, suggesting that he had deliberately tried to get booked for the improper purpose of affecting betting markets. The seriousness of the charges could have led to a lifetime suspension from professional football had the charges been upheld.
However, following a full hearing, an independent commission found the allegations unproven, effectively exonerating the Brazilian midfielder from the most severe implications. The FA confirmed that it is still awaiting the panel’s written reasons for the decision but acknowledged that the spot-fixing charges were dismissed.
Paqueta, who joined West Ham United from Lyon in August 2022, released a heartfelt statement through the club, expressing his relief and gratitude.
“I have always said I was innocent of these extremely serious accusations,” he said. “This has been a very difficult period for me and my family. I want to thank God, my wife who stood by me, my legal team, West Ham United, and the incredible fans who supported me through this ordeal. I’m eager to return to playing football with joy and passion.”
Despite the exoneration on match-fixing, the FA confirmed that two lesser charges were found to be proven — specifically that Paqueta failed to fully cooperate with the investigation. The commission will determine appropriate disciplinary action for these breaches in the coming weeks. It remains unclear whether this will result in a fine, suspension, or other sanctions.
Karren Brady, Vice-Chair of West Ham United, issued a statement applauding the decision.
“We are pleased that Lucas has been cleared of the most serious allegations,” Brady said. “From the beginning, he has maintained his innocence and shown tremendous professionalism under pressure. The club stood by him throughout, and we’re glad to see justice prevail.”
Legal representative Alastair Campbell, head of Paqueta’s legal team at Level Law Firm, described the case as one of the most intense and emotionally draining of his career.
“Few cases carry the professional and personal weight of this one. Lucas faced immense pressure with integrity and resilience. We are grateful that the commission has seen the evidence clearly and ruled accordingly,” Campbell said.
The FA, which has ramped up its crackdown on betting violations in English football, reiterated that it will not comment further until it receives the full written judgement. The governing body has shown increased vigilance in recent years, especially after high-profile cases such as that of Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, who received a suspended two-month FA ban in 2023 while already serving a 10-month suspension imposed by the Italian Football Federation for betting offences.
The Lucas Paqueta betting case drew global attention due to the player’s stature in the Premier League and his place in Brazil’s national squad. With the FA ruling now in, attention turns to the potential minor sanction related to the cooperation charges and more importantly, Paqueta’s long-awaited return to the pitch without the shadow of scandal hanging over him.
This development also brings relief to West Ham United, who had stood firmly behind their midfielder throughout the legal process. The club, which begins a new Premier League campaign with renewed ambition, will now benefit from Paqueta’s return to full focus and availability.