Lucas Paqueta’s turbulent years have another twist, with reports from the era when West Ham United midfielder revealed he would face fines in the £150,000 area after committing a crime of misconduct by an independent committee.
When the Brazilian playmaker was at the heart of British football’s most controversial incident last season, he was accused of intentionally collecting yellow cards to manipulate the betting market.
These allegations, first surfaced in 2023, quickly cast a shadow on his career, even derailing the £85 million switch to Manchester City.
As the Football Association pursued the investigation, what appears to be a dream move for Etihad was put on hold.
West Ham United star packeta has been fined
In July, Paketa was exempt from spot locking, the most harmful fee. The committee ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the booking was intentionally sought for gambling purposes.
The decision provided great relief to West Ham, who feared the possibility of losing one of his most influential players to a long-term halt.
However, the ruling was not entirely in favor of Paketa. The spot-fixing element of the lawsuit was dismissed, but the committee concluded that the midfielder had not fully cooperated with investigators.
Specifically, he was found guilty of not providing a comprehensive answer to the question and withholding the material requested during the probe. Violations of these FA rules resulted in heavy fines.
Paqueta is exempt from spot correction fees
The full reason for the verdict is expected to be made public soon, and could further clarify whether Paketa or the governing body will bear legal costs.
Although West Ham is understood to be deeply frustrated by the process, believing that the evidence presented is flimsy, the club has chosen not to take formal action against the free agency.
The financial penalty is a setback, but Paketa’s focus appears to be firmly fixed on his football. After surviving a storm of allegations for Spotfix, he decides to put the controversy behind him.
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