Lucas Pacqueta could sue Football Association for loss of earnings

Lucas Paqueta is considering whether to sue the Football Association for loss of earnings after a move from West Ham to Manchester City collapsed in 2023 amid a spot-fixing investigation.

The Brazilian, who is still at West Ham, was cleared of four charges of spot-fixing by an independent commission in July, with the FA confirming on Wednesday it would not appeal against the commission’s verdict.

The PA news agency understands the player is keeping all options under consideration.

A statement made by one of Paqueta’s representatives, Nick De Marco KC, ahead of an interview with the FA on September 11th, 2023, was included within the commission’s written reasons which were published on Wednesday.

The written reasons for the independent Regulatory Commission’s decisions on the misconduct charges against West Ham United FC’s Lucas Paqueta have now been published.

Full statement: https://t.co/dHD2FmIQs1 pic.twitter.com/eYptSXj0XP

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) September 3, 2025

De Marco said leaking of information concerning the case had “led to a collapse of a transfer of the player that was otherwise agreed between (West Ham), and Manchester City Football Club, from which both the player and West Ham would have received substantial sums running into the tens of millions of pounds. Both the (player) and (West Ham) reserve all of their rights in that regard.”

Neither West Ham nor Paqueta’s legal representatives commented on the matter on Thursday.

The commission did find charges related to Paqueta’s alleged failure to co-operate with the investigation proven, with sanctions still to be set.

It had been alleged Paqueta deliberately attempted to receive a card in four Premier League games between November 2022 and August