Commission clears Lucas Paquetá of match-fixing charges
The commission said the FA could not prove its charges.
UK.- Lucas Paquetá, the Brazilian international and West Ham United midfielder, has been cleared of match-fixing allegations, lifting the risk of a ban from football. An independent commission concluded that the English Football Association (FA) could not substantiate charges against the player.
Back in May 2024, the FA had accused Paquetá of violating Rule E5.1, which prohibits attempts to improperly influence any aspect of a football match. The charges stemmed from suspicions that he deliberately received yellow cards in four Premier League fixtures between November 2022 and August 2023. Paquetá denied any wrongdoing.
Although the commission dismissed the match-fixing claims, Paquetá was found to have breached Rule F3 by failing to fully cooperate with the FA’s inquiry. The governing body said sanctions for this infraction would be determined soon.
Following the verdict, Paquetá expressed his gratitude on Instagram, saying: “I can’t say anything more now, but I also can’t express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.”
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady commended Paquetá’s resilience, stating: “Despite the incredible pressure on him, Lucas has performed week in and week out for the club, always giving everything.”
The FA is waiting for the commission’s written explanation before deciding whether to appeal the decision
