Lucas Paqueta ‘set to be CLEARED of betting charges as FA faced with paying West Ham star's £1MILLION legal fees'
The West Ham star has played for two years while allegations of being deliberately yellow carded were hanging over his head.
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It was alleged that Paqueta picked up bookings on four separate occasions between November 2022 to August 2023 amid suspicious betting patterns being flagged.
A guilty verdict could have seen the 27-year-old slapped with a lifetime ban from football.
But reports from The Times claim Paqueta will be cleared of all charges.
The FA are set to confirm their decision early next week.
West Ham and Paqueta are said to be furious over how long it has taken to reach a verdict.
The FA could now face having to cover the cost of the midfielder's legal fees, which is in the region of £1million.
Shortly before the investigation became public, Manchester City had agreed an £85million deal to sign the former Lyon man from West Ham.
But that move collapsed once City became aware of the allegations.
An investigation was launched after suspicions betting patterns were identified originating from Paqueta Island in Brazil, where the player was born.
Bets ranging from just £7 to £400 were placed on the four separate cards, in matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth.
A total of £100,000 in winnings came from bets placed on the four bookings.
West Ham's then shirt sponsor, Betway, as well as a number of other high-profile bookmakers, raised concerns after their automatic systems which monitor suspicious betting were triggered.
After the nine-month FA probe, Paqueta was charged in May last year but did not face a hearing until March 2025, which finished following the end of the Premier League season.
During the hearing, evidence was heard from former West Ham boss David Moyes.
Paqueta's form has nosedived during the process, with the playmaker in tears on the pitch following a booking in a West Ham game versus Tottenham in May.
Following that match, Paqeuta's wife released an emotional statement saying the family had been living through a "nightmare" for two years.
Sources close to the player have revealed that the allegations have had a serious impact on Paqueta's mental well-being.
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