Lucas Paquetá Cleared of FA Betting Charges, Michail Antonio Departs West Ham

West Ham United‘s Lucas Paquetá has been cleared of all charges related to alleged breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules. The news comes as a significant relief for the Brazilian international, who faced a challenging period battling these allegations. A club spokesperson expressed immense positivity regarding the outcome,stating,”Lucas is happy and committed. He is an critically important person in the dressing room and at the club, and we love him. We just want to help him enjoy his football.” The spokesperson further highlighted the personal toll the allegations took, acknowledging it as an “unbelievable challenge” and a “realy tough period in his life and career,” crediting Paquetá, his family, and his support network for his resilience. The FA’s written reasons for the decision are still pending, and it remains unclear if Paquetá will pursue legal action against the governing body.

In parallel developments, veteran striker Michail Antonio appears to be surplus to requirements under new manager David Potter. When questioned about Antonio’s inclusion in the squad for the upcoming campaign, particularly following the free transfer signing of Callum Wilson, Potter’s response was a definitive “No.” This signals the end of an era for Antonio at the London Stadium. The club had previously stated that no formal decision had been made regarding the player whose contract was set to expire. A statement released last month emphasized the club’s priority to support the “long-serving, highly-respected player, and a much-loved member of the West Ham family” in his personal journey to resume playing at the highest level. Though, there has been no update on this front prior to Potter’s recent comments.

Antonio,who joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015 for a reported £7 million,has been a pivotal figure for the club. He holds the record for the most Premier League goals for West Ham, having scored 68 goals in 268 top-flight appearances.His return to playing for Jamaica in the Concacaf Gold Cup this summer followed his recovery from a severe car crash in december.