Lucas Paqueta has been found guilty of two charges of breaches of FA Rule F3, which relate are thought to his mobile phone.
In October last year he was charged two counts for allegedly obstructing the investigation by failing to cooperate with the FA.
FA Rule F3 relates to a player’s misconduct in failing to cooperate with the Football Association (FA)’s inquiries or requests for information during disciplinary proceedings.
In 2023 Paquetá’s mobile phone was surrendered for two months as part of the FA’s investigation into his messages, calls and banking history. During that time, he understandably purchased a new replacement mobile device.
Although the FA eventually returned the original phone, they later requested it back to verify additional details. However, the Brazilian midfielder disposed of it believing it was no longer required.
Sanctions for violating Rule F3 can range from fines to suspensions but a fine is the most likely sanction in this case.
At time of the FA charges Lucas Paqueta was quoted as saying “I am extremely surprised and upset that the FA has decided to charge me. For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can.”
Paqueta has been officially found innocent of charges reating to yellow cards
This afternoon an FA statement confirmed charges against him for match fixing have not been proven but the two counts of F3 have been proven.
Guilty of minor charges
The Statement reads “An independent Regulatory Commission has found the misconduct charges against West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta for alleged breaches of FA Rule E5 to be not proven.
Lucas Paqueta was charged with four alleged breaches of FA Rule E5.1 in relation to his conduct during the club’s Premier League fixtures against Leicester City on 12 November 2022; Aston Villa on 12 March 2023; Leeds United on 21 May 2023; and AFC Bournemouth on 12 August 2023.
It was alleged that Lucas Paqueta directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.
Lucas Paqueta denied the charges against him, and the Regulatory Commission found them to be not proven following a hearing.
The Regulatory Commission has found the misconduct charges against the player for alleged breaches of FA Rule F3 to be proven.
Lucas Paqueta was charged with two breaches of FA Rule F3 in relation to alleged failures to comply with his obligations to answer questions and provide information to The FA’s investigation.
Lucas Paqueta denied the charges against him, but the Regulatory Commission found them to be proven following the hearing. The Regulatory Commission will decide an appropriate sanction for these breaches at the earliest opportunity.
The FA awaits the Regulatory Commission’s written reasons in relation to its decisions on the charges, and will not be commenting further until that time.”
I know we’re all West Ham fans here but is anyone surprised he got off? I saw the evidence against him and wow it would have been an amazing set of circumstances for all of that to come together and for the bets to be a coincidence.
Have to charge him with something didnt really break the rule he gave it to them and they gave it back to him.
They have to charge him with something to avoid embarrassment but they should be made to pay for their incompetence by the club and pacman himself take them for every penny they have
Just realised what FA means, obviously nothing to do with football !
Any punishment beyond a nominal fine will make the FA look more pathetic than they already do. They have misjudged this whole case, they should and would have had the opportunity many, many months ago to realise they initial suspicions were misplaced and then made a decision to cancel the investigation at that stage. I stead they have tried desperately to hang on in the hope some miracle happens to prove guilt and have simply made themselves look amateur.
Probably easier to pay a fine than contest it but contesting it would have sound basis.
1. Why did FA not keep the phone if it was wanted as evidence, police would.
2. Why did FA not clone the drive if they intended to return the phone.
3. Did FA specify that the phone may not be finished with so to keep it, if they didn’t it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that it was finished with.
This outcome is really as much if not more an indicator of FA failings than Paqueta ones.
I fully agree the F A are idiots, whilst finding Paqueta not guilty, they are now open to being sued themselves, false accusations etc.
I was sure they would not find him not guilty, but leave the case open, declaring not proven, thereby covering themselves to further court action, whilst not punishing Paqueta.
A sort of stale mate, if you like.
WHU should take case to Court of Arbitration in Switzerland. They had his phone for 2 months and he bought a replacement so being punished for doing the responsible thing and Havering a redundant phone recycled
Everyone must understand that the FA purposely set up Paqueta by returning his phone . There is no incompetence here just conspiracy by the FA to ensure at least two guilty verdicts to protect themselves against a law suit . There is a potential motive for big clubs to pay off members of the FA in order to destroy Paqueta and in doing so destroy Westham’s ambitions to become a big club . This should be independently investigated as the whole system is rife with corruption .
What a complete bunch of idiots the FA are they should all be kicked into touch
Absolutely ridiculous, they had the phone for two months and gave it back, only to ask for it again, by which time he had purchased a new one and therefore got rid of the old one – it’s not his fault they didn’t do their due diligence whilst they had the phone in their possession !
Oh well, at least they can get him on this trumped up charge to argue their case of nothingness, perhaps he and WHU will feel the need to sue them for two years of anguish including the two months it took to issue their verdict after they had reached it, notwithstanding the loss of an £80m+ deal !!!
Just shows how incompetent the FA are. Have the evidence in their hands, give it back, whoops we haven’t finished with it. It would be funny if it wasn’t so frustrating for player and club.
How pathetic the FA are here. The man has been cleared of any wrongdoing and they had the phone for two months. In the meantime he got a new phone and on its return binned the old one. He’s on £150000 a week. Did they expect him to keep it in case he might need it in the future. Petty bitterness. Just like the whole case has been. Heads should role at the FA for wasting peoples time and money
Not withstanding that they’d had had all his personal details and I wouldn’t trust them with anything
Just shows how incompetent the FA are. Have the evidence in there hands, give it back, whoops we haven’t finished with it. It would be funny if it wasn’t so frustrating for player and club.
Personally I think that West Ham Paqueta and maybe City should have them up in court and sue their useless lazy arses for as much as they can.
But knowing the FA they’ll have some vindictive plan of revenge up their sleeves if we do.
It shows them up for the inept out of touch old dodderers that they are. And it’s plain for the world to see.
There is nothing in Civil law preventing Paqueta or West Ham from suing. Anything that purports to prevent this right can be challenged in a court and will be thrown out. You have no right to prevent the normal course of justice. Even Google agrees.
The “Fiction” of Contract:
Some legal scholars argue that the contractual relationship between clubs and the FA is a legal “fiction” created to allow for oversight of the sport, as there isn’t a formal statutory scheme for enforcing rules.
Sue them and find out.
I think the FA should drop all charges
There should be no more punishment
They have crucified the guy letting it go on for so long.
For some reason they were just out to get him
His mental health was effected and let’s not forget West. Ham have suffered too
It’s been a disgrace on how long it has gone on
It not only cost him a massive move and a medals, but wages as well
It also nearly cost West Ham their place in the premier league due to him not being able to forget all this hanging over his head
I hope he stays with us and helps West Ham to build to for the future and to get back into Europe
Message to the FA you are a shambles
The FA have got some cheek, a 2 year nightmare and they are still considering sanctions for a minor issue totally their fault. I hope he sues them for millions (as should West Ham)
So the FA get his phone, fail to properly document what they discover, return it and then after he disposes of it (as most of us do when we replace phones) blame Paqueta for their own incompetence. There is no such thing as professional in football administration is there?
How petty of the FA. Can’t they see how silly this makes them look.
He gave them his phone and I’m sure if they told him to keep it incase he would have. The FA are clutching just to get him on something.
When I get a new phone I delete the old and get rid.
I think we all do. Crazy that all they could get him on was this
So the incompetent FA take two years out of a player’s life at the top level and come up with nothing! The phone charge outcome is there purely for them to save face. No one can deny that during this long process Paqueta’s form has understandably fallen off a cliff!
Pity West Ham can’t sue them for loss of points!
I wonder when Man City’s outcome is known
If I was Lucas and West Ham I would appeal these stupid charges as he had given them his phone originally. If they didnt retrieve the information required then that is their fault, not his.
Quite agree
They are clutching at straws now
Need to charge him with something otherwise it makes the look stupid
Say no more