Just when Lucas Paqueta thought he could finally breathe, he’s now facing yet another waiting game.
The Brazilian midfielder may have cleared a major hurdle in the FA’s spot-fixing investigation, but there’s still unfinished business — and it could cost him, both emotionally and financially.
Cleared of the Big Accusation — But It’s Not All Good News
On Thursday, Paqueta was officially cleared of intentionally earning yellow cards to manipulate betting outcomes.
That was the biggest and most damaging accusation hanging over him, and one that could have ended his career.
But this case goes way back — almost two years since Mail Sport first revealed he was under investigation while still shining in West Ham colors.
Two Charges Still Stick — And a Fine Could Be Coming
Although the spot-fixing claims didn’t stick, Paqueta was still found guilty on two counts: failing to answer questions and not providing information during the FA’s investigation.
He denies both charges. Regardless, the independent commission decided otherwise, and a fine seems inevitable.
Waiting on the Written Judgment
Now comes the part where everyone — Paqueta, his lawyers, the FA — must wait for the official written judgment from the hearing.
According to sources close to the matter, that could take up to three weeks. Only then can Paqueta decide if he’ll try to appeal those lesser charges.
Legal Team Maintains He Cooperated
Alastair Campbell, the head of Paqueta’s legal team at London firm Level, emphasized to Mail Sport that his client did cooperate throughout the process.
However, until they have the commission’s reasoning in writing, there’s not much they can do in terms of fighting back.
“We believe Lucas fully cooperated,” Campbell said, “but we have to wait to review the reasons in full before making any decisions about an appeal.”
Loss of Earnings Could Spark Legal Action
There’s also a financial angle to all this. Remember that £85 million move to Manchester City? It was practically sealed until the investigation became public — and then it fell apart.
Now, Paqueta’s camp is weighing whether to sue the FA for lost earnings once the judgment is out.
Taking the FA to Court? That Might Happen
Campbell didn’t rule out legal action. “It’s something we’ll look at seriously once we have the written reasons,” he added.
Whether or not that goes forward will depend heavily on what those documents say — and how strong Paqueta’s legal footing appears.
West Ham Won’t Join the Fight
While Paqueta might take on the FA, his club won’t.
Insiders at West Ham say the team has no plans to sue football’s governing body — they believe it would send the wrong message for a club to take legal action against the people who run the sport.
The FA Might Not Be Done Either
It’s not just Paqueta who could appeal.
The FA themselves are reportedly considering appealing the decision to acquit him on the spot-fixing charges.
If they choose to go down that path, the legal drama could drag on even longer.
A £1.5 Million Legal Bill Hanging in the Air
All this back-and-forth doesn’t come cheap. The FA may also be forced to cover Paqueta’s legal costs, which are believed to be around £1.5 million.
That’s a hefty price tag for a case that’s left both sides bruised and frustrated.
