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West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta’s investigation centered on allegations that he deliberately sought yellow cards in four Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023, to reportedly manipulate betting markets for profit. The matches in question were West Ham’s fixtures against Leicester City (November 12, 2022), Aston Villa (March 12, 2023), Leeds United (May 21, 2023), and Bournemouth (August 12, 2023). Reports claim that the charges, issued in May 2024, accused Paqueta of intentionally receiving bookings “for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting”.
Now, Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of four spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission, with the Football Association (FA) confirming on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, that it will not appeal the decision. The verdict, which brings an end to a nearly two-year investigation that began in August 2023, marks a significant moment of relief for the 27-year-old Brazilian, who faced the prospect of a lifetime ban from football. The FA’s decision allows Paqueta to move forward with his career, though sanctions related to two lesser charges of failing to cooperate with the investigation are still pending.
FA’s evidence reportedly relied on 542 bets totaling £46,758.83 with a collective return of £213,703.81
Reports claim that a 314-page document from Sports Resolutions, an independent dispute resolution service, detailed the case, noting that the FA’s evidence relied heavily on circumstantial data, including betting patterns that showed 542 bets totaling £46,758.83, with a collective return of £213,703.81. However, the commission concluded that the betting data was “not illustrative of a spot-fix” and was “consistent with alternative explanations”. Lucas Paqueta, who joined West Ham from Lyon for £36.5 million in August 2022, consistently denied the allegations, asserting his innocence from the outset.
In a statement released after the ruling, Lucas Paqueta reportedly expressed profound gratitude. “Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations. I am eager to return to playing football with a smile on my face,” he remarked. West Ham and Paqueta have reportedly expressed frustration over the duration and impact of the investigation. The case, which began in August 2023, reportedly led to the collapse of a potential £85 million transfer to Manchester City in 2023, costing Paqueta a chance to compete for Premier League titles and West Ham a substantial transfer fee.
