West Ham United's Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta will be exonerated from allegations of spot-fixing following a verdict by an independent regulatory commission, according to reports.
The 27-year-old midfielder faced serious accusations from the Football Association regarding intentionally receiving cautions in four Premier League fixtures.
The commission's findings, expected to be formally revealed next week, conclude more than a year of investigation into the player's conduct.
Should the ruling confirm his innocence, the FA may be required to cover Paqueta's substantial legal expenses, reportedly approaching £1 million.
PA
|Lucas Paqueta has reportedly been cleared of all charges
The charges had cast significant doubt over the player's future in English football.
The Brazilian international had been under scrutiny from football authorities since May 2024, when formal charges were brought against him.
JUST IN: Conor McGregor's pub engulfed in flames as firefighters battle to put it out
The allegations centred on claims that he deliberately sought yellow cards during matches spanning the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
Had the commission found him culpable, Paqueta would have faced an extensive suspension from professional football.
The gravity of the accusations prompted Manchester City to withdraw their interest in signing him, despite having activated his £85 million release clause.
The protracted investigation has overshadowed Paqueta's contributions to West Ham since his arrival from Lyon in summer 2022.
When the FA brought charges in May 2024, Paqueta responded with a forceful denial.
"I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me," he stated at the time.
"For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can."
READ MORE: Donald Trump pays heartwarming tribute to 'big heart' Hulk Hogan after tragic death at 71
PA | Paqueta said he was "extremely surprised and upset" by the chargesThe midfielder vehemently rejected the allegations, declaring: "I deny the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name."
He indicated he would make no additional public comments whilst proceedings continued.
The controversy directly impacted his career prospects, with Manchester City abandoning their pursuit of the player despite triggering his substantial release clause.
The specific matches under investigation involved four separate bookings across two seasons.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
GETTY | Lucas Paqueta was accused of picking up deliberate yellow cards for West Ham
The first incident occurred in November 2022, when Paqueta received a caution for challenging Leicester City's Boubakary Soumare.
Subsequently, he was cautioned for a mistimed tackle on Aston Villa's John McGinn in March 2023. Two months later, during a victory against Leeds United, he received a booking in the 65th minute for bringing down Crysencio Summerville.
The final incident under scrutiny happened during the opening weekend of the 2023-24 campaign, when he was penalised for handball against Bournemouth.
These four yellow cards formed the basis of the FA's investigation into potential match manipulation.