Lucas Paquetá found not guilty of match-fixing, but faces punishment for not cooperating

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá has been cleared of spot-fixing allegations after an independent regulatory commission found no evidence to support the charges brought against him by the English FA.

The investigation, which began in August 2023, focused on suspicions that the Brazilian intentionally received yellow cards in four Premier League matches against Leicester City (12 Nov 2022), Aston Villa (12 Mar 2023), Leeds United (21 May 2023), and Bournemouth (12 Aug 2023) to manipulate betting markets.

Paquetá was formally charged in May 2024, and at one point faced the possibility of a lifetime ban if found guilty.

However, following a lengthy review process, the regulatory commission concluded that all four spot-fixing charges were “not proven.”

While Paquetá has been cleared on those grounds, he was found guilty of failing to fully cooperate with the investigation. He denied breaching FA Rules F2 and F3, which relate to providing documents and information during disciplinary procedures. The commission will decide on an appropriate sanction for these breaches in due course.

Reacting to the ruling, Paquetá said:

“Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence… I’m grateful to God and eager to return to playing football with a smile.”

He also thanked his family, West Ham United, and supporters for standing by him through what he called a “nightmare.”

The 27-year-old, who joined West Ham from Lyon in August 2022 for £36.5 million, featured in 33 Premier League games during the 2024–25 season, scoring four goals.

He also played a key role in the club’s Europa Conference League triumph during his debut campaign.