Lucas Paquetá is expected to be found not guilty in relation to spot-fixing charges. The West Ham player was charged by the Football Association with four counts of being deliberately booked to influence betting markets and two of failing to cooperate with its investigation.
The charges were announced in May 2024 after a 10-month investigation. The Brazilian could have faced up to a life ban if he were found guilty in one of the most high-profile cases the FA have brought.
The FA had been looking into allegations that Paquetá deliberately picked up yellow cards against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth in 2022 and 2023 and alleged that he “directly sought to influence […] 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”.
About 60 bets were placed on Paquetá to be shown a yellow card in those games. A source with knowledge of the FA’s investigation said that one of the bets was for £7, with the highest £400.
Paquetá denied any wrongdoing. “I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me,” he said on Instagram in May last year. “For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can. I deny the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name.”
West Ham said at the time: “Lucas categorically denies the breach and will continue to robustly defend his position. The club will continue to stand by and support the player throughout the process.”
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The FA investigation came to light when Paquetá was close to joining Manchester City for about £80m and scuppered his hopes of a move to the then treble-winners. Now 27, he cost West Ham a club-record £51m when he joined from Lyon in August 2022.
Paquetá’s trial concluded in early June and the player was told he must wait four to eight weeks for a verdict. West Ham were unhappy with that given the disruption it would cause to their summer transfer window, leaving their head coach, Graham Potter, uncertain over whether a key player would be part of his squad next season.
A month previously, Potter said the investigation had taken a mental and physical toll on Paquetá. “In fairness to Lucas I think he’s handled it brilliantly,” Potter said.
Paquetá’s wife, Maria Fournier, wrote on Instagram at about the same time: “My husband has a posture and a strength that I admire and impresses me. We have been living this nightmare for two years.”