Lucas Paquetá and the FA’s Two-Year Failure

How the FA Investigation Broke Lucas Paquetá’s Career

Lucas Paquetá is expected to be cleared. After nearly two years of doubt, delays, and headlines, the Football Association will reportedly drop the spot fixing charges. But the damage is already done.

This was not just a scandal. It was a failure of process, a breakdown in trust, and a clear warning of what happens when football institutions prioritize optics over truth.

The Rise: From West Ham Record Signing to World Cup Starter

In August 2022, West Ham United signed Paquetá from Lyon for a club record fee of 60 million euros. Within months, it looked like a bargain.

He brought both flair and grit to the Premier League. He anchored the midfield in European matches and earned a place in Brazil’s 2022 World Cup squad. He scored against South Korea, linked brilliantly with Casemiro, and looked every bit like the creative midfielder Brazil had been waiting for.

West Ham were inconsistent, but Paquetá was rising.

By early 2023, Manchester City had made him a top target. According to reporting from The Guardian, City submitted an initial formal bid of £70 million. The transfer saga involved escalating valuations, with West Ham reportedly setting their asking price higher to his future release clause of £85 million, and City making improved offers as negotiations progressed.

Paquetá agreed to personal terms on a six-year deal, and with only a medical remaining, it felt like the next logical step was the biggest one of all.

The Leak That Changed Everything

In August 2023, news broke that the Football Association had opened an investigation into suspicious betting patterns involving Paquetá’s yellow cards. The most notable was a booking against Aston Villa in March.

The response was immediate. Manchester City pulled out of the transfer. Brazil stopped calling him up. And yet, no formal charges were filed. No evidence was shared. The mere existence of the investigation was enough to stall his career.

The Mental and Emotional Toll on Lucas Paquetá

Paquetá continued playing for West Ham, but the spark was gone.

He later spoke about the emotional toll. He felt isolated, overwhelmed, and disconnected. He fully cooperated from day one and consistently denied wrongdoing, as later confirmed by The Guardian.

West Ham lost a massive sale. Brazil lost a playmaker. Manchester City moved on. And Paquetá was left carrying the weight of accusations without answers.

He was no longer playing with joy. Every pass carried weight. Every match felt like a trial by spotlight.

The Phone Incident: What Really Happened and What Didn’t

At one point, Paquetá voluntarily handed over his mobile phone to the Football Association investigators. He had no choice but to comply, and initially everything seemed in order.

The FA held on to it for around eight weeks while reviewing logs, messages, and potential betting links. Then the phone was returned.

According to reporting from Insider Sport, when the FA requested the phone back to review new information, Paquetá no longer had it; he said he’d already replaced it and discarded the old device. This led the FA to bring two new charges of non-cooperation, not for spot fixing, but for the phone not being available when asked for it again.

That became the leverage. It was never proof of wrongdoing. Just procedural compliance that suddenly went missing. And without the device, the FA said he obstructed the case.

They had it for eight weeks and returned it with no evidence. Why ask for a device they had already cleared?

Unprofessional from an investigative standpoint and unfair to punish Paquetá for their negligence.

What the FA Case Cost Paquetá, West Ham, and Brazil

Here is what this dragged-out investigation cost:

• Paquetá’s reputation and mental health
• West Ham’s chance at an 85 million-pound sale
• Brazil’s midfield rebuild
• Manchester City’s long-term transfer plans
• The public’s faith in the process

This was not an investigation. It was a collapse in competence.

Paquetá Is Cleared, But the Damage Is Done

Paquetá is now expected to be fully cleared of all charges.

As reported by TalkSport and The Times, the independent regulatory commission found no evidence of wrongdoing. The Football Association is now expected to cover up to one million pounds in legal fees.

But they cannot return the time that was lost. They cannot undo the collapse of the Manchester City deal. They cannot give him back his name.

He might be called up again. He might transfer. He might return to Brazil. But the story will follow him.

How Lucas Paquetá’s Market Value Collapsed Without Kicking a Ball

According to Transfermarkt, as of May 2025, Paquetá’s market value peaked at 65 million euros. It currently stands at 28 million. That drop is not because of performance. It is because of reputation.

Even If He Was Guilty, the FA Still Got It Wrong

Let’s say, for argument’s sake, he was guilty. Then it is still just as bad for the Football Association.

Because it would mean they had the right suspicion and still failed to handle it with competence. They leaked it. They mishandled the evidence. They let it spin for two years without results.

Innocent or guilty, Paquetá never had a chance to defend himself on a fair playing field.

Everyone in this sport must be treated as innocent until proven guilty — not just in court, but in headlines and perception. Investigations must be professional, private, and properly resourced.

This one was none of those things.

The Football Association must be held accountable. There should be an investigation into the investigation. And if vital errors or negligence are confirmed, there should be consequences. Terminations. Public apology. Structural change.

Because in a game where betting sponsors are everywhere and real match fixing does exist, these kinds of cases will become more common.

The governing body cannot afford to get them wrong.

Not like this.
Not the way they did with Paquetá.

Could Lucas Paquetá Come Home to Flamengo?

The latest whispers suggest that Paquetá may return to Brazil.

To Flamengo.

On paper, it is difficult. He is still world-class. Still good enough to start for any top club in Europe. A move to Brazil would require the right salary, the right conditions, and a rare moment of alignment between ambition and reality.

But if it happens, it would go down as one of the most meaningful returns in Brazilian football history. A full circle moment. A player who was once the future of the national team is coming home not broken but forged by hardship. Still elite. Still Paquetá.

Maybe that is what he needs.

For his career. For his family. For his peace.

There is no place like home.

We kept the light on for you, Paquetá.