Lucas Paquetá is preparing to seek over £1 million in legal expenses from the Football Association following his exoneration in a high-profile spot-fixing investigation. The West Ham United player intends to reclaim costs incurred during the FA’s two-year case, which concluded with a comprehensive regulatory report highlighting significant shortcomings in the proceedings.
While the Brazilian international isn’t expected to pursue damages for lost earnings—including a collapsed £85 million transfer to Manchester City last year—his legal team will argue that procedural flaws and delays substantially increased his financial burden. The FA already faces approximately £1 million in unrecoverable legal expenses from its own prosecution.
The regulatory commission’s findings heavily criticized the FA’s approach, describing elements of the case as “surprising” and “concerning.” Particular attention was drawn to the association’s failure to consult an independent betting expert despite alleging 253 suspicious wagers connected to the player.
A forthcoming hearing will determine both the cost recovery claims and potential sanctions for two secondary charges related to cooperation with the investigation. West Ham United has confirmed it won’t pursue separate legal action against the governing body, which has accepted the commission’s primary verdict without appeal.
