West Ham unlikely to start legal battle with the FA if Lucas Paqueta is cleared of spot-fixing after two-year saga and collapse of dream Man City move
West Ham are unlikely to start a furious legal battle with the FA if Lucas Paqueta is cleared of spot-fixing in a two-year saga that led to the collapse of an £85million move to Manchester City.
The bombshell verdict on whether Paqueta deliberately picked up four yellow cards during Premier League matches to influence betting markets is due to land in the coming days with sources suggesting the Brazilian is expected to be cleared.
Paqueta was on the verge of a mega move to Manchester City in August 2023 when Mail Sport broke the news that the Brazilian was under investigation by the FA for four suspicious bookings.
City pulled the plug as soon as West Ham made them aware of the investigation, costing Paqueta a dream move, potentially his entire career, and West Ham a huge payday.
The investigation and trial is believed to have cost the club nearly £2m in fees and it remains to be seen whether the FA will have to stump up the bill, though club insiders believe it unlikely.
West Ham will look to sell Paqueta this summer to help fund Graham Potter‘s squad overhaul but stand no chance of landing a fee anywhere near as large.
Paqueta’s potential clearing has led for calls from the fan base to take action against the FA for the club missing out on a huge windfall.
They needed to sell players before they could buy this summer to keep in line with PSR rules and they didn’t make their first signing until Mohammed Kudus’s £55m move to Tottenham.
West Ham are furious at how long the trial has taken, and the toll it has taken on Paqueta, however senior Hammers sources told Mail Sport the club would not consider taking action against the FA.
It’s understood West Ham don’t think it would be good for football if they were to sue the game’s custodians.
An emotional return to hometown club Flamengo is a possibility for Paqueta, though sources say the Hammers would want in way in excess of £25m otherwise will not consider selling him.
They needed to sell players before they could buy this summer to keep in line with PSR rules and they didn’t make their first signing until Mohammed Kudus’s £55m move to Tottenham.
West Ham are furious at how long the trial has taken, and the toll it has taken on Paqueta, however senior Hammers sources told Mail Sport the club would not consider taking action against the FA.
It’s understood West Ham don’t think it would be good for football if they were to sue the game’s custodians.
An emotional return to hometown club Flamengo is a possibility for Paqueta, though sources say the Hammers would want in way in excess of £25m otherwise will not consider selling him.
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