West Ham midfielder Paqueta cleared of betting charges

LONDON, July 31 (Xinhua) -- West Ham United's Brazilian international midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of betting charges by an independent commission.

The 27-year-old had faced a potential lifetime ban from football following an investigation into his conduct opened by the Football Association (FA) in August 2023, leading to formal charges in May 2024.

The charges against him were related to Premier League matches between West Ham and Leicester City on 12 November 2022, as well as 2023 fixtures against Aston Villa on 12 March, Leeds United on 21 May and Bournemouth on 12 August.

Paqueta was accused of intentionally provoking yellow cards "for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market." While he was not alleged to have personally placed bets, the FA claimed members of his family and friends placed approximately 60 small-stakes bets related to the bookings.

However, the commission found Paqueta guilty of failing to co-operate with the investigation and stated it would "decide on an appropriate sanction" for this offence separately.

Despite this lesser charge, Paqueta celebrated the dismissal of the core betting allegations.

"Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations.

"I can't say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.

"To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me - thank you for everything," he said on the West Ham website.

West Ham United Vice-Chair Karren Brady also welcomed the outcome: "We are pleased Lucas has been cleared. He has maintained his innocence from the outset, and as a club we have resolutely stood by him and supported him throughout the process."

"Despite the incredible pressure on him, Lucas has performed week in and week out for the club, always giving everything. It has been a difficult time for Lucas and his family, but he has remained absolutely professional throughout, and he is now looking forward to drawing a line under this episode, as is everyone at West Ham United," she commented. ■