West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing allegations by an independent regulatory commission, the club confirmed on Thursday, July 31. The Brazilian international had faced four charges brought by the Football Association (FA) over alleged attempts to manipulate match outcomes for betting purposes.
The 27-year-old was accused of deliberately seeking to receive yellow cards in Premier League matches to influence betting markets. Paqueta denied all charges, and after a hearing, the independent commission ruled that the allegations were not proven.
While the spot-fixing charges were dismissed, the FA stated that two separate charges, relating to Paqueta’s failure to cooperate with the investigation, were upheld. A disciplinary commission will determine the appropriate sanctions for those breaches in due course.
In a statement released through West Ham, Paqueta expressed relief and reiterated his position: “I have always maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations.”
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady welcomed the outcome. “We are pleased Lucas has been cleared. He has maintained his innocence from the outset, and as a club we have resolutely stood by him and supported him throughout the process,” she said.
The midfielder is expected to return to full focus on football as the new Premier League season approaches, with West Ham standing by their player throughout the lengthy investigation.
