West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta has been officially cleared of spot-fixing allegations by an independent regulatory commission, bringing an end to a nearly two-year investigation that threatened to derail his career. The Brazilian international, who was facing a potential lifetime ban from football, has now been exonerated of the most serious charges that shook both his club and the Premier League.
The Football Association launched its investigation in August 2023, alleging that Paqueta deliberately received yellow cards during matches to manipulate betting markets. The charges were connected to four specific fixtures: Leicester City on November 12, 2022, Aston Villa on March 12, 2023, Leeds United on May 21, 2023, and Bournemouth on August 12, 2023.
However, after months of legal proceedings, the commission concluded that the spot-fixing charges were “not proven,” handing the 27-year-old midfielder a major reprieve. Paqueta, who has consistently maintained his innocence, reacted emotionally to the ruling and thanked supporters, his club, and his legal team for standing by him during what he described as a personal “nightmare.”
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While Paqueta was cleared of the core allegations, the regulatory commission did find him guilty of two lesser charges, failing to fully cooperate with the FA investigation. The breaches related to FA Rule F3, which concerns the failure to provide requested documents or information. A decision on the appropriate sanction for these compliance violations is expected in the coming days.
In a heartfelt statement, Paqueta said: “From the beginning of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these serious allegations. I cannot say more at this moment, but I want to express my gratitude to God and my eagerness to return to playing football with joy.”
The saga has been deeply personal for Paqueta and his family. His wife, Maria Fournier, previously revealed the emotional toll the case had taken, sharing in May that they had been “living this nightmare for two years.” That same month, Paqueta was seen in tears after receiving a yellow card during a match against Tottenham.
Since joining West Ham from Lyon for an initial £36.5 million in August 2022, Paqueta has been a pivotal figure in the squad, contributing four goals in 33 Premier League appearances during the 2024–25 season and playing a key role in West Ham’s UEFA Europa Conference League triumph during his debut campaign.
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady welcomed the outcome, expressing pride in the club’s unwavering support for the midfielder. “This has been a challenging time for Lucas and his family, but he has remained completely professional,” she said. “He is now looking forward to moving past this chapter, as is everyone at West Ham United.”
The FA stated that it is awaiting the commission’s written explanation and will withhold further comments until it is received. In the meantime, fans and teammates alike are celebrating Paqueta’s return, as he prepares to refocus on football without the shadow of scandal hanging over his name.
