The FA has officially cleared West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá of all spot-fixing charges following one of the most extensive integrity investigations in football history. 

However, the Brazilian international still faces sanction for failing to cooperate with the inquiry – and UK media reports suggest he is now weighing up legal action against the governing body.

High-profile investigation

The FA’s investigation, which stretched over two years, centred on suspicions that Paquetá deliberately received yellow cards in four Premier League fixtures – against Leicester City (November 2022), Aston Villa (March 2023), Leeds United (May 2023) and Bournemouth (August 2023).

The authority charged Paquetá with four breaches of FA Rule E5.1, accusing him of attempting to “influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting”.

Paquetá consistently denied the allegations. “An independent Regulatory Commission has found the misconduct charges against West Ham United’s Lucas Paquetá for alleged breaches of FA Rule E5 to be not proven,” the final ruling stated.

The investigation – triggered by betting monitoring systems flagging unusual market activity – could have resulted in a lifetime ban. Instead, the charges were dismissed following a summer hearing.

Cooperation charges still proven

While the spot-fixing case collapsed, the commission upheld two breaches of FA Rule F3 relating to Paquetá’s failure to fully cooperate with the investigation.

The FA confiscated the midfielder’s phone for two months during the inquiry, examining his messages, calls and financial records. When the device was later disposed of before a second request for inspection, the FA considered it non-compliance.

These charges may result in a fine but no suspension is expected, meaning Paquetá can continue to play for both club and country. The Regulatory Commission will confirm sanctions “at the earliest opportunity”.

Personal toll and club support

The case, described as extremely mentally damaging for the player, overshadowed Paquetá’s career for more than two years and led to the collapse of a proposed £80-85m move to Manchester City in August 2023.

Despite the pressure, West Ham Vice Chair, Karren Brady, praised his professionalism: “Despite the incredible pressure on him, Lucas has performed week in and week out for the club, always giving everything. It has been a difficult time for Lucas and his family, but he has remained absolutely professional throughout.”

After being cleared, Paquetá issued a statement: “Since the first day of this investigation I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations. I can’t say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.”

Legal fallout

According to Sky Sports News, Paquetá is now considering suing the FA over the collapse of his Manchester City transfer and the reputational damage caused by the case. He is consulting his legal team on potential proceedings.

West Ham, however, will not pursue damages. The club reportedly believes “it is not good for football if clubs sue governing bodies who do a difficult job.”

The FA has confirmed it will not appeal the decision and has declined to comment further until the commission’s final written reasons are published.

Wider integrity implications

The Paquetá case underscores the FA’s increased reliance on betting market intelligence and data-led detection tools to protect football’s integrity. The popularity of player betting markets, like cards, corners, fouls, and goals etc, has made this particularly important.

While the midfielder can now move forward on the pitch, the saga highlights both the complexity and consequences of sports betting investigations – raising questions about player rights, governing body procedures and the balance between scrutiny and fairness.

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