Graham Potter has discussed Lucas Paqueta’s future at West Ham after the midfielder was cleared of spot-fixing charges by the FA following a two-year investigation. Mail Sport broke the story of the FA’s probe back in August 2023 when it was suspected Paqueta had been purposefully picking up yellow cards to influence betting markets.
The 27-year-old was accused of deliberately getting booked in four Premier League games, against Leicester in 2022, and Leeds United, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth the following year. Paqueta reportedly could have faced a lifetime ban from football if he was found guilty.
However, on Thursday, the 27-year-old was cleared of the spot-fixing charges, and he later took to social media to share a defiant post thanking West Ham fans for their support. In the wake of the decision, some reports linked Paqueta with a £30 million return to his homeland, with boyhood club Flamengo said to be interested.
Hammers boss Graham Potter, meanwhile, is confident the midfielder will remain in East London this summer. “You never know for sure because anything can happen in the window with anybody,” said Graham Potter. “But the news is incredibly positive. If it had gone the other way, there would have been a whole other line of questions. Lucas is happy and committed. He is an important person in the dressing room and at the club, and we love him. We just want to help him enjoy his football.”
“You can imagine on a personal level for him, having to fight those allegations was an incredible challenge. It has been a really tough period in his life and career. It is a credit to him and his family and everyone who has supported him that he has come through.”
Paqueta had been linked with an £80 million move to Manchester City after he capped off his debut season in England by setting up Jarrod Bowen’s winning goal in the 2023 Conference League final. The move collapsed shortly after, however, when West Ham informed Pep Guardiola’s side that he was being investigated due to suspicious betting patterns.
