The Football Association have responded to criticism aimed at them from West Ham as The Times leaks a stunning verdict in the Lucas Paqueta case.
It was nearly two years ago that West Ham star Lucas Paqueta first faced allegations from the FA of spot-fixing.
Paqueta was officially charged last April and finally faced a hearing this year, which concluded back in June.
The Football Association has been pushing for Paqueta to be banned for life if West Ham’s record £51m signing is found guilty of deliberately being booked on four occasions to influence betting markets.
This morning Hammers News reported on claims West Ham’s Paqueta verdict is imminent.
Exclusive: FA make crucial Paqueta point clear to West Ham
But as the day wore on without any official announcement from the FA, Hammers News reached out to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners.
The West Ham board cast new doubt on the Paqueta case verdict being ‘imminent’.
In a short statement, the Hammers criticised the process, saying: “Who knows with FA, the Paqueta verdict could still be weeks away!”
West Ham fans have also heavily criticised the FA for the long drawn out process.
But now the FA have made a crucial Paqueta point clear to West Ham as The Times leaks a stunning verdict.
With no official announcement from the FA, Hammers News contacted English football’s governing body asking for a status update.
It was also put to the FA that West Ham and the club’s fans were angered by the further delay.
The FA responded stating: “We will let you know if there are any official updates.”
But it was also pointed out that it is not the FA causing the hold-up in delivering a verdict.
“This case is being managed by an Independent Regulatory Commission,” The FA told Hammers News.
While the process prior to the case being heard by an independent three-person panel was handled by the FA, it is a salient point to note.
Times leak stunning Paqueta verdict as West Ham ace ‘cleared’
While part of the FA structure, Independent Regulatory Commissions are designed to be independent in their decision-making.
This means they are not controlled by the FA’s executive or other bodies. Their role is to ensure fair play and uphold the FA’s rules and regulations, handling cases involving player misconduct, financial irregularities, and other breaches.
And while the FA were making that point clear to Hammers News, a massive claim about the verdict was made by The Times.
The paper’s journalists Matt Lawton and Martyn Ziegler have claimed Paqueta has been cleared by the commission.
“Sources with knowledge of the case have told The Times that the player is understood to have been cleared by an independent regulatory commission, with the decision due to be announced next week,” the report states.
The report states that The FA could now be liable to pick up the tab for Paqueta’s £1m plus legal fees.
It also claims both The FA and West Ham declined to comment when approached.
West Ham was in the process of selling Paqueta to Man City for around £80m when the allegations first arose in 2023.
Hammers now expected to sell Paqueta
The accusations collapsed that deal.
Paqueta is West Ham’s highest earner ever on £150k per week.
West Ham’s board recently admitted Paqueta has Saudi clubs interested in him.
Brazilian clubs are also thought to be in for the 27-year-old.
West Ham are now widely expected to sell Paqueta should an agreeable offer be made in the region of £30m.
As reported by Hammers News back in May, Paqueta appeared to drop a big hint where he wanted to go next if he was cleared.
That being his beloved boyhood – and first professional – club Flamengo.
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