The Leeds owner has been implicated in the Telegraph’s investigation into corruption in football.
Leeds owner Massimo Cellino
Leeds United owner and chairman Massimo Cellino has spoken to the press in Italy about the recent allegations regarding corruption in the English game from the Telegraph, in which he was implicated.
The newspaper, which recently caught out the now departed England manager Sam Allardyce, suggested a video they had of a meeting with the Leeds chairman and undercover reporters showed the Italian suggesting ways of avoiding third party ownership roles.
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino watches from the stands
Leeds United have vehemently denied the claims, making it clear that Cellino did nothing wrong in the video the Telegraph have published in an official statement released on the Leeds website yesterday morning.
Cellino spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport and made it clear that he had done nothing illegal and simply outlined a perfectly legitimate business model for the undercover reporters, who were posing as a Far East football agency firm:
“I have not committed crimes. I have not committed corruption. I have only mentioned a business strategy.”
Leeds United fans are used to controversy surrounding their maverick chairman and this is the latest in a long line of off-field issues the club has had to deal with.
General view of a protest against Leeds owner Massimo Cellino before the match
On this occasion it still remains unclear whether Cellino has in fact done anything wrong and, he certainly appears adamant he is in the right.
Leeds fans will just hope it is not a distraction when they take on Barnsley this weekend.
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