“The FA will say that they had a duty to investigate. Others will say they were doing the bidding of betting giants - companies that watch every booking, make billions, and face none of the fallout. Either way, the FA are left with a bloody nose.”

Brazil forward Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of alleged spot fixing after being accused of deliberately receiving yellow cards to influence betting markets.

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta says he is eager to "return to playing football with a smile on my face" after being formally cleared of charges related to spot-fixing. Paqueta had been under investigation since August 2023 and was charged by the FA in May 2024 for allegedly getting booked deliberately "for the improper purpose of affecting the