Fa rule e5

The West Ham United: Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of serious misconduct charges related to alleged breaches of the Football Association’s (FA) betting rules, bringing to an end a long and stressful chapter in his career.

The West Ham United star had been charged in May 2024 with four alleged violations of FA Rule E5.1, concerning attempts to deliberately receive a red card in matches involving his club. The charges suggested Paquetá had influenced games to benefit betting outcomes, with one or more people standing to profit. However, an independent regulatory commission has now found those charges "not proven", clearing the 26-year-old of any match-fixing allegations.

In a statement, Paquetá expressed relief and gratitude: “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.