Footballer Lucas Paqueta mulls over filing a lawsuit against the FA due to a betting controversy; West Ham United chooses not to pursue compensation.
West Ham United Midfielder Lucas Paqueta Cleared of Misconduct in Betting Case
In a significant turn of events, Lucas Paqueta, West Ham United's midfielder, has been cleared of misconduct in a betting case that had been under investigation since August 2023. The English Football Association (FA) announced its decision not to appeal the ruling, following an independent commission's findings in July.
The allegations against Paqueta involved suspicious betting patterns and claims that he intentionally received yellow cards in four English Premier League (EPL) games in 2022 and 2023. However, the commission found no evidence indicating that Paqueta deliberately received yellow cards or engaged in any form of betting activity.
A total of 253 people placed £47,000 ($63,087) worth of bets on Paqueta, resulting in a total profit of £167,000 ($224,163). Despite this, investigators did not find any mention of betting or gambling on Paqueta's phones.
Paqueta acknowledged knowing five of the individuals who placed these bets, but he maintains that he had no interest in betting himself. This aligns with the commission's findings, which support Paqueta's claim of innocence in the betting case.
Despite the allegations, West Ham United will not pursue the FA over the scuppered £80m ($92m) transfer to Manchester City for Lucas Paqueta. The club has issued a statement expressing its support for the player and its confidence in his integrity.
In response to the clearance, Paqueta is reportedly considering legal action against those who made the accusations against him. The identity of the individuals who placed the bets and profited from the accusations remains unknown.
The FA released its full decision on the case on Wednesday, providing a detailed account of the investigation and the commission's findings. This brings an end to a challenging period for Lucas Paqueta and West Ham United, and the focus can now return to football matters.
