‘What on earth?’ – ‘Staggering’ new details emerge from Lucas Paqueta case
Lucas Paqueta has started the season well for West Ham, scoring two goals in their opening three games.
Paqueta’s future at West Ham was under speculation during the transfer window, with Aston Villa very keen on the Brazil international.
Paqueta was also linked with a move to Manchester City in 2024, yet the deal amounted to nothing as he was charged by the FA for spot-fixing.
After a long independent investigation, Paqueta was eventually cleared of any misconduct in July.
Football finance expert in disbelief over release of FA’s Lucas Paqueta findings
The FA alleged that Paqueta had deliberately gotten himself booked in four Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023.
The FA claimed that 253 bettors made bets on Paqueta to be booked in those four games, and 27 of those bettors could be linked to the player.
An independent commission concluded that the data was not ‘illustrative of a spot fix’.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire shared his reaction to the release of the FA documents, questioning the FA’s decision to not have a key witness for the case.
“Reading the Paqueta verdict (having no friends has some benefits), the FA did not call an expert witness,” Maguire posted on X. “Staggering, it caused me to drop my bacon sandwich. What on earth were they thinking?”
It’s also clear that the FA’s decision has come under intense scrutiny on social media, with fans not impressed at the way the investigation was conducted.
Regardless of this, Paqueta has been officially been cleared of all charges, and the 28-year-old can continue his career at West Ham with a significant weight off his shoulders.
| Stat | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2022/23 | 41 | 5 | 7 |
| 2023/24 | 43 | 8 | 7 |
| 2024/25 | 36 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025/26 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
Graham Potter will need his star midfielder to be firing on all cylinders should his side improve on last season’s 14th-placed finish.
What actions could Lucas Paqueta now take?
Sky Sports News has reported that Paqueta is considering suing the FA, following the release of this document.
Paqueta had been fined for failing to comply with the investigation, but seeing as the FA could not prove that Paqueta was not guilty of spot-fixing, he is now in discussions with his legal team on how to proceed.
The financial loss the Brazilian suffered as a result of this case is immeasurable.
He would have joined Manchester City, meaning he would have received an increased wage and set of bonuses, so it will be interesting to see if there is another chapter to this long-winded saga.
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