West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá has been cleared of spot-fixing allegations by an independent regulatory commission, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The Brazilian international had faced four charges of breaching FA rules, accused of deliberately seeking to receive bookings during Premier League matches to influence betting outcomes. Paquetá, 27, denied all allegations, and the commission ruled that the charges were not proven after a formal hearing.
However, the Football Association noted that two separate charges—relating to failure to fully cooperate with its investigation—were upheld. A decision on the appropriate sanction for these breaches will be made “at the earliest opportunity,” the FA stated.
In a statement released by West Ham, Paquetá reaffirmed his stance: “I have always maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations.”
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady welcomed the decision, saying: “We are pleased Lucas has been cleared. He has maintained his innocence from the outset, and as a club we have resolutely stood by him and supported him throughout the process.”