Lucas Paqueta issues response as FA make decision on spot-fixing appeal

West Ham United and Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta allegedly deliberately attempted to receive a card in four Premier League games between November 2022 and August 2023, but the charges were found not proven

The Football Association has said it will not appeal against the decision by an independent commission to clear West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta of four spot-fixing charges. The written reasons for the commission’s decisions in the case were published on Wednesday afternoon.

Sanctions in relation to two charges which were found proven – relating to an alleged failure to co-operate with the FA investigation – will be decided by the commission at the earliest opportunity, the FA said.

“The FA is committed to ensuring that the integrity of football is maintained, and full and thorough investigations will always be conducted into serious allegations of rule breaches,” the governing body said in a statement.

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It had been alleged Paqueta deliberately attempted to receive a card in four Premier League games between November 2022 and August 2023, but the charges were found not proven.

Alastair Campbell, Partner at Level and the head of Paqueta’s legal team said: “This judgment shows that Lucas had to go to great lengths to prove his innocence. Only by taking such a comprehensive approach was he able to demonstrate that so-called ‘suspicious’ betting patterns did not indicate spot-fixing, and that his performances in the relevant matches were not those of a player trying to be carded.

“Lucas is a deeply religious man, absolutely dedicated to his wife and young children. The evidence not only showed he has no interest in gambling whatsoever, but confirmed that his integrity as both a player and a person is beyond doubt. With this case no longer hanging over him, he can stop speaking to lawyers and focus fully on what matters most: faith, family and football.

“We are still making submissions in relation to the non-cooperation charge. But in a case where his entire career was at risk, Lucas is unquestionably the successful party.

“It’s fantastic to see him playing so well without this burden – he has his mojo back.”

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