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West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá is expected to be cleared of spot-fixing allegations in the coming days, a development that would lift a dark cloud that has loomed over his career since 2023.
The 27-year-old Brazil international was charged by the Football Association (FA) in May this year with four counts of intentionally receiving yellow cards in order to influence betting outcomes, allegedly for the benefit of friends or family members. Two additional charges were also brought against Paquetá for failing to cooperate with the investigation, which began in August 2023 and focused on cautions he picked up in Premier League games from November 2022 to August 2023.
Had he been found guilty, Paquetá could have faced a lifetime ban from football. He was close to completing a £85 million transfer to Manchester City before West Ham disclosed the ongoing FA investigation, halting the deal. His wife, Maria Fournier, described the period as a "nightmare" the couple had endured for two years.
Now, it seems that nightmare is coming to an end. A regulatory commission met in March to review the case, and after deliberating in early June, is understood to have ruled in Paquetá's favour. West Ham signed him for a club-record £51 million from Lyon in August 2022, and he has consistently maintained his innocence.
Under FA rules introduced in 2014, all individuals involved in clubs within the top eight tiers of English football are prohibited from betting on any aspect of the sport worldwide.
Despite the serious nature of the charges, West Ham, Paquetá’s legal team, and the FA have declined to comment publicly on the case. But according to several sources close to the matter, the outcome should soon be officially confirmed—and it is likely to be a major relief for both player and club.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @lucaspaqueta
