Lucas Paquetá can finally breathe easy. After two years under investigation, the West Ham United playmaker has been cleared of all spot-fixing charges by the Football Association, putting one of the biggest football integrity probes in recent memory to bed.

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A Yellow Card Mystery That Rocked the Game

It all began back in August 2023, when suspicions were raised that the Brazilian maestro had deliberately picked up yellow cards in Premier League matches — allegedly to influence betting markets.

Four matches were flagged:
⚽ vs Leicester City
⚽ vs Aston Villa
⚽ vs Leeds United
⚽ vs Bournemouth

Come May 2024, Paquetá was hit with a total of six charges — including four counts of spot-fixing and two counts of obstructing the investigation. The stakes were sky-high, with a potential life ban rumoured to be on the table if he was found guilty.

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The Verdict: Not Guilty (Mostly)

Fast forward to July 2025, and the verdict is finally in — and it’s a massive win for Paquetá.

An independent FA Regulatory Commission has cleared the 26-year-old of all major misconduct charges under FA Rule E5.

However, it’s not a totally clean sheet. The FA still notes “two breaches of FA Rule F3” — relating to alleged non-cooperation with the investigation — are under review, meaning minor disciplinary action could still follow.

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Club Backing: The Hammers Had His Back

West Ham United have stood firmly behind their No. 10 throughout the legal storm, and issued a statement that reflects a sense of relief and vindication:

“The Club has stood by Lucas since the very start of a long and difficult process,” read the statement.
“We are pleased an independent commission has cleared him of the most serious charges.”