Lucas Paquetá’s wait for justice still isn’t over.
Despite being cleared of spot-fixing, the West Ham playmaker now faces a fresh delay as he waits to learn whether he can appeal a separate charge—one that ultimately caused his big-money transfer to Manchester City to collapse.
Earlier this week, the FA formally cleared the Brazilian of deliberately picking up four yellow cards linked to suspicious betting patterns. However, while the most serious charges were dismissed, Paquetá was found guilty of failing to fully cooperate with the investigation.
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That charge is believed to centre around a mobile phone that had initially been returned to him by the FA. Investigators later requested a second look at the device—by which point Paquetá had reportedly replaced the phone.
The 27-year-old must now wait up to three weeks for the commission’s written reasoning before deciding whether to appeal the ruling.
According to The Mail Online, Paquetá is also weighing up legal action against the FA over potential loss of earnings. The collapse of his move to Manchester City—where the release clause stood at £85 million—could have significant financial implications.
West Ham, however, are unlikely to sue the FA themselves. The Mail are reporting insiders believe that publicly attacking the governing body could reflect poorly on the club.
Meanwhile, the FA could still appeal Paquetá’s acquittal and may also be on the hook for the player’s reported £1.5 million legal bill.
One thing’s for certain: this saga is far from over.