The Football Association (FA) has decided not to appeal against an independent regulatory commission’s decision to clear West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta of four spot-fixing charges, Afrosport reports.
The FA pressed four charges of spot-fixing against the Brazil international last May for allegedly getting booked deliberately in order to affect the betting market in Premier League matches against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth between November 2022 and August 2023
The independent commission however in its report, said the FA’s charges against Paqueta were not proven, and called into question the English football governing body’s decision not to utilise independent expertise on betting data
He was also charged with two counts of failing to co-operate with the investigation by not providing relevant information and documents which was a breach of the FA rules.
Paqueta has denied all these charges, but the regulatory commission found the latter charge to be proven and will be deciding the on the applicable sanctions for breaching the concerned rules.
He joined West Ham from Olympique Lyon in August 2022 and has scored 21 goals and provided 14 assists in 124 competitive games, winning the maiden UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023.
