West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has emerged victorious in a two-year battle against spot-fixing allegations, with reports indicating the Brazilian is set to be cleared by the Football Association.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Hammers in 2022 for a hefty 50 million pounds plus add-ons, faced a potential career-ending ban but can now look forward to a fresh start.
His stellar form attracted an 85-million-pound move to Manchester City, but the deal collapsed when the FA charged him with breaching betting rules in May 2024.
The allegations centered on four yellow cards Paqueta received across matches against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Bournemouth between November 2022 and August 2023, with suspicions that individuals in Brazil profited from bets on these bookings.
The investigation, which began in August 2023, dragged on for nearly two years, casting a shadow over Paqueta’s career.
Now, according to The Times, an independent regulatory commission has cleared Paqueta of the spot-fixing charges, with an official announcement expected soon.
The FA may now face covering Paqueta’s legal fees, estimated at around 1 million pounds, a costly outcome for the governing body.
