Lucas Paquetá Receives Reprimand Over FA Rule Breach

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá has been reprimanded and issued a formal warning by an independent FA Regulatory Commission after being found guilty of two breaches of FA Rule F3 relating to non-cooperation during an investigation.

The ruling, published on Friday, follows an earlier decision in August that cleared Paquetá of four serious charges of alleged spot-fixing but found him guilty of failing to fully comply with the Football Association’s inquiries.

According to the Commission’s written decision, the Brazilian international refused to answer the majority of questions during two FA interviews in 2023, instead responding “no comment” on legal advice.

Although Paquetá later provided a detailed witness statement and allowed investigators access to his mobile devices, the panel concluded that his initial refusal breached the FA’s requirement for full cooperation.

However, the Commission described the circumstances as “truly exceptional” and decided against imposing a fine or suspension, citing several mitigating factors, including the player’s reliance on legal advice, his lack of English proficiency, a previously clean disciplinary record, and the severe personal and professional impact of the lengthy proceedings.

“A sanction must follow,” the panel wrote, “but we determined that the appropriate and proportionate sanction is one of a reprimand and a warning as to future conduct.”

The Commission, chaired by His Honour Phillip Sycamore CBE and including Christopher Stoner KC and Stuart Ripley, also addressed the issue of costs. It ruled that the FA must cover 90% of the Regulatory Commission’s expenses, while Paquetá will pay the remaining 10%.

The panel rejected the idea that the ruling would weaken future investigations, emphasizing that each case should be judged on its specific facts and that deterrence must remain “proportionate.”

The decision concludes a protracted process that began when Paquetá was charged in 2023. The case, which temporarily derailed a high-profile transfer to Manchester City, has been one of the most closely watched disciplinary matters in recent English football history.

The FA and Paquetá both retain the right to appeal the decision under the governing body’s regulations.

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