West Ham United and Brazil midfielder Lucas Paquetá was cleared of any wrongdoing in a betting probe nearly two years after it was launched.
The English Football Association (FA) investigated Paquetá for spot-fixing after it was alleged he purposefully received yellow cards for the benefit of sports bettors.
Key Takeaways
- Paquetá was allowed to play during the investigation, which began in 2023.
- The midfielder was reportedly close to an £85-million ($113.1 million) move to Manchester City.
- Paquetá’s attorney said they may seek legal action depending on the FA’s justification for the investigation.
Paquetá received four "suspicious" yellow cards between November 2022 and August 2023. The allegations suggested he picked up the cards so that anyone who bet on him to receive a booking would win their bet without his actions directly influencing the matches' final outcomes.
However, the FA confirmed that an independent regulatory commission investigation did not find enough evidence to prove Paquetá acted out of the ordinary.
“It was alleged that Lucas Paquetá directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in 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,” a statement from the FA read. “Lucas Paquetá denied the charges against him, and the Regulatory Commission found them to be not proven following a hearing.”
Despite his innocence in the matter, the commission did determine Paquetá failed to adequately comply with the investigation.
“The Regulatory Commission has found the misconduct charges against the player for alleged breaches of FA Rule F3 to be proven,” the statement adds. “Lucas Paquetá denied the charges against him, but the Regulatory Commission found them to be proven following the hearing. The Regulatory Commission will decide an appropriate sanction for these breaches at the earliest opportunity.”
Details of the investigation
Paquetá, 27, was facing a potential lifetime ban from FA-governed competitions if found guilty.
The incidents for which he was investigated occurred in a Premier League match against Leicester City on Nov. 12, 2022, and three games in 2023: Aston Villa on March 12, Leeds United on May 21, and Bournemouth on Aug. 12.
Paquetá’s attorney, Alastair Campbell, said the FA’s verdict took "an enormous weight" off the player's chest after the charges left him "extremely surprised and upset."
Despite the investigation, the Brazilian was allowed to continue playing for his club and country. He made 33 appearances for the Hammers last season and scored four goals.
David Moyes and Lucas Paquetá shared an embrace before kick-off - with the former West Ham manager having testified for him during his hearing. 💙
— Hammers Hub (@HammersHubWHUFC) July 30, 2025
That’s loyalty. ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/XWyOiBpVxw
Paquetá was brought to tears in May when he received a yellow card during a match against Tottenham. His wife, Maria Eduarda Fournier, said afterward they had endured “a nightmare for two years.”
Lasting consequences
Paquetá was reportedly on the verge of a move to then-league champions Manchester City in the summer of 2023 when news of the investigation broke, causing the deal to collapse.
Campbell said the FA could “certainly” face legal repercussions since its investigation nixed Paquetá's “dream move.” However, he said they will wait for a full written statement from the FA to determine their course of action.
Manchester City reportedly still have interest in signing Paquetá, though they have not submitted a bid to West Ham.
“It has been a difficult time for Lucas and his family, but he has remained absolutely professional throughout, and he is now looking forward to drawing a line under this episode, as is everyone at West Ham United,” the club's vice chair, Karren Brady, said.
