Trending 
West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá has been cleared of spot-fixing allegations by an independent regulatory commission, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The 27-year-old Brazilian international had faced four charges from the Football Association (FA) relating to alleged breaches of betting rules during Premier League fixtures. It was claimed that Paquetá had deliberately tried to receive a booking in order to manipulate the betting market.
Paquetá denied the accusations, and after a formal hearing, the independent commission concluded that the charges were not proven.
However, the FA said that two separate charges concerning a failure to cooperate with the investigation had been upheld. A decision on the appropriate sanction for those breaches will be made by the commission “at the earliest opportunity,” the FA added.
In a statement released via West Ham, Paquetá said he had always maintained his “innocence against these extremely serious accusations.”
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady welcomed the verdict, stating: “We are pleased Lucas has been cleared. He has maintained his innocence from the outset, and as a club we have resolutely stood by him and supported him throughout the process.”
