Lucas Paqueta to learn FA punishment for misconduct charges despite being cleared of spot-fixing

The saga began with explosive allegations last year when he was accused of deliberately picking up bookings to aid suspicious betting patterns. That spot-fixing case hung like a dark cloud over his career and even halted an £85 million move to Manchester City.

In July, Paqueta was officially cleared of the most damaging claims, that he intentionally sought yellow cards for gambling gains. That verdict brought immense relief for West Ham, who had been bracing for the possibility of losing their playmaker to a lengthy ban. But while the spot-fixing charges were dismissed, two lesser accusations stuck. The FA determined that Paqueta had failed to provide full and proper answers during questioning and had not handed over all information requested.

According to The Times,the independent regulatory commission has now ruled that Paqueta will not serve any suspension but will instead pay a hefty penalty, believed to be around £150,000. Sources close to the player insist Paqueta was simply following advice from club-appointed lawyers throughout the process, limiting the detail of his responses.

After the verdict was out, Paqueta released a statement: "Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations. I can’t say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face. To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me - thank you for everything.”

The fallout may not end with the fine. The FA’s independent panel is expected to release detailed written reasons in the coming days, including clarity on who foots the legal bill. Paqueta’s defence is thought to have racked up costs exceeding £1m, sparking debate on whether the FA will be forced to pay a chunk of those expenses.