Leeds United owner’s ban would be far reaching.
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino is facing an 18 month ban from all football activities after The FA issued a strong verdict over his alleged misconduct relating to irregular payments to an agent.
Cellino is already in talks to sell 50 per cent of his Leeds stake and potentially the rest at the end of the season, investor Andrea Radrizzani told the Strait Times last week.
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino in the stands at Anfield
Calciomercato reported last month Cellino has his eye on investing in Italian Serie B side Brescia, and while this has sine gone quiet, the possibility could now be under threat.
A new report from Calcio News 24 suggests this is now in jeopardy due to his FA ban.
The ban would be unilateral, with Cellino needing his appeal to be successful if he is to own or invest in an Italian club.
Recent precedent saw Manchester United signing Paul Pogba’s debut delayed in August due to a suspension imposed by the Italian Football Federation.
The notion that Cellino could not simply turn his back and go back to work in Italy, makes him surely more determined to want to stick around at Leeds to clear his name.
Walking away from Leeds could be easy with an investor lined up and the ban imposed for 18 months, but if he is restricted from starting again elsewhere, the club owner might just decide to dig his heels in and battle for a reduced or entirely retracted suspension.
General view of a protest against Leeds owner Massimo Cellino
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