Lucas Paquetá, the Brazilian midfielder who plays for West Ham United, has been cleared of spot‑fixing charges by an independent Football Association regulatory commission.
Paquetá was charged in May 2024 under English Football Association Rule E5.1, accused of deliberately receiving yellow cards in four Premier League fixtures against Leicester (12 Nov 2022), Aston Villa (12 Mar 2023), Leeds (21 May 2023), and Bournemouth (12 Aug 2023) in order to influence betting markets so others could profit.
The West Ham midfielder was not found guilty of the primary charges, but the commission did uphold two lesser breaches under FA Rule F3, relating to failure to fully cooperate with the investigation, including not providing certain information and answering questions.
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Paquetá has consistently denied the allegations, stating: “Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations… To my wife … to West Ham United … to the fans … family … legal team … thank you for everything.”
West Ham vice‑chair Karren Brady praised his professionalism and resilience. The club pledged unwavering support throughout the more than two‑year saga. His legal team, described the resolution as a vindication of Paquetá’s integrity, enabling him to refocus on football and his family.
Paquetá can now return fully to competitive football, with his reputation intact regarding the serious spot‑fixing allegations. The FA will soon determine sanctions for the procedural breaches, likely fines, though a lifetime ban has been avoided.
