West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of four alleged breaches of betting regulations, following a hearing before an independent Regulatory Commission, the Football Association (FA) announced on Thursday.
The 27-year-old Brazilian had been accused of intentionally receiving yellow cards in four Premier League matches—against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Bournemouth—between November 2022 and August 2023. The FA alleged that Paqueta sought to manipulate the betting market by deliberately getting booked to influence specific match events for the benefit of others.
However, Paqueta denied all charges, and after a thorough hearing, the Regulatory Commission concluded that the accusations were “not proven.”
In a statement, the FA added that Paqueta still faces two charges related to alleged non-compliance during the investigation, specifically failing to answer questions and provide information as required.
Facing the possibility of a lifetime ban, Paqueta consistently maintained his innocence and criticized the media for misleading coverage of the case.
“From the first day of this investigation, I have always maintained my innocence in the face of these extremely serious accusations,” Paqueta said in a statement. “I’m thankful to God and excited to return to football with joy. I want to thank my wife, West Ham United, our loyal fans, and everyone—family, friends, and my legal team—who stood by me throughout.”
The FA launched its investigation in August 2023. Two months later, Paqueta publicly urged the governing body to look into media leaks regarding his case.
West Ham Vice-Chair Karren Brady welcomed the verdict and reaffirmed the club’s unwavering support: “We are pleased that Lucas has been cleared.
The club has fully supported him from the beginning. Despite the immense pressure, he has remained professional and performed consistently for the team.”
West Ham, who finished a disappointing 14th in the Premier League last season, will kick off their 2025/26 campaign away to newly promoted Sunderland on August 16.
