Lucas Paqueta, the Brazilian midfielder currently playing for West Ham, is contemplating legal action against the Football Association (FA) after being acquitted of spot-fixing betting charges. The situation unfolded after the FA published the full written reasons from an independent commission regarding its inability to substantiate the claims made against Paqueta. This revelation, which came out on a Wednesday, concluded that the FA had no record of betting-related comments on the two mobile phones belonging to the player.
Initially charged with spot-fixing, Paqueta had been cleared of any misconduct in July. The commission’s findings highlighted the FA’s lack of compelling evidence, leading them to confirm that they would not be appealing the decision. This development has prompted Paqueta to consult with his legal team over potential proceedings against the FA.
Interestingly, while Paqueta considers pursuing this avenue, West Ham has decided against suing the FA for damages. This decision follows the collapse of Paqueta’s significant £80m transfer to Manchester City, a deal that was impacted by the FA’s investigation, which began in August 2023. The club expressed a belief that lawsuits between football clubs and governing bodies are detrimental to the sport, as it places unnecessary strain on the organizations attempting to uphold integrity within the game.
While there has been no official comment from the FA regarding the matter, the organization announced earlier that it would not challenge the commission’s ruling. The FA also indicated that sanctions related to two proven charges concerning Paqueta’s alleged non-cooperation with the investigation would be decided at the earliest opportunity.
The case included serious allegations that Paqueta had intentionally sought to receive yellow cards in four Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023. However, these charges were ultimately found to be unproven. During the investigation, the FA revealed that 253 separate bets had been placed on Paqueta receiving yellow cards, with a total stake of £47,000 and a profit of £167,000. Notably, the FA identified 27 of these bets that could potentially be connected to the player.
Despite these findings, Paqueta maintained his innocence, asserting that his relationships with any bettors were minimal. He stated that he did not regularly communicate with them and, even during interactions, football was rarely a topic of conversation. The independent commission, in evaluating the evidence, determined that the betting data neither demonstrated a consistent pattern indicative of a spot-fixing scheme nor supported the FA’s accusations against Paqueta.
Significantly, the commission pointed out that there was nothing in Paqueta’s on-field conduct that would suggest he had sought to be booked in any of the matches referenced in the allegations. Both former West Ham manager David Moyes and ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg provided testimony in support of Paqueta, affirming that the yellow card incidents were within the normal actions expected from a player of his caliber.
Moyes expressed that he had reviewed the incidents closely and found no wrongdoing based on his extensive experience in the sport. Clattenburg raised objections to some of the findings related to the FA’s case, indicating that certain yellow cards awarded should not have been issued.
The commission’s thorough analysis underscored the FA’s inability to uncover any betting-related data on Paqueta’s mobile devices, which served as a crucial point in his defense. The fact that his phone had a time-sensitive automatic deletion function, leading to the recovery of over 300 deleted messages that bore no connection to spot-fixing, further bolstered his claims of innocence.
Legal representation for Paqueta, headed by Alastair Campbell, emphasized his client’s integrity, stating that the evidence presented not only exonerated him from allegations of gambling but also reaffirmed his dedication to family and faith. Campbell noted that with these matters no longer overshadowing his career, Paqueta could refocus on what truly matters: his family and his performance on the football pitch.
While Paqueta still faces potential consequences related to the non-cooperation charge, the overall outcome of the case has been viewed as a success for him, allowing him to regain his form on the field and move forward without the burden of these serious allegations hanging over him.
World of sports 
Leave a comment