Lucas Paqueta cleared

West Ham United forward Lucas Paqueta on Thursday was cleared of alleged spot-fixing after being accused of deliberately receiving yellow cards to influence betting markets. The English Football Association (FA) said that an independent panel had found the charges unproven. “Lucas Paqueta denied the charges against him and the Regulatory Commission found them to be not proven following a hearing,” the FA said in a statement. The ruling brings to an end a long-running case against the Brazil international, who was charged in May last year. The FA had claimed the 27-year-old Paqueta intentionally sought to be booked in four separate games — against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Leeds and AFC Bournemouth from November 2022 to August 2023 “in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.” The panel upheld two charges against Paqueta for failing to answer questions and provide information to the FA’s investigation.