Lucas Paquetá Cleared of FA Charges
Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paquetá has been cleared of the misconduct charges brought by the Football Association (FA) of England. This was confirmed by West Ham United through an official statement issued this Thursday. Paquetá, who was charged in May 2024 by the FA, faced accusations of betting manipulation. It was alleged that the player had deliberately received four yellow cards in Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023. Had he been found guilty, Paquetá could have been banned from football for life.Paquetá continued playing for West Ham and for the Brazilian national team. Last season, he participated in 33 Premier League matches, scoring four goals. In the statement, Paquetá expressed his gratitude to his wife, West Ham United, the fans, his family, friends, and the legal team that supported him during this process. The player has participated in West Ham’s pre-season tour of the United States and will be available for the Premier League opener against Sunderland on August 16.From the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations. I cannot say anything more at this moment, but I would like to express my gratitude to God and my desire to play football again with a smile on my face.
Lucas Paquetá
