Skip to content

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino banned for 18 months over Ross McCormack transfer

Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino
Image: Leeds owner Massimo Cellino is facing an 18-month suspension

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has been fined £250,000 and banned for 18 months for breaching Football Association rules on agents.

Cellino will be barred from acting as "a director or shadow director" of any football club from February 1 2017, although the Italian has already indicated he will appeal.

Leeds have also been fined £250,000, all punishments relating to Ross McCormack's transfer to Fulham in July 2014.

A statement on the FA website read: "With effect from 1 February 2017, Mr Cellino has been suspended for 18 months from being a director or shadow director of Leeds United or any other football club or company whose activities include ownership of a football club.

"By 30 April 2017, he is to attend and complete an FA education programme covering the duties and responsibilities of an owner and director of an English football club."

Six months half price
Six months half price

Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get six months half price!

Cellino pre-empted the verdict with a statement of his own on Wednesday that read: "I am surprised to read the news regarding the FA's intentions to ban and fine me, as well as fine the club. I am not guilty and I will take the right steps to defend myself through the tribunal.

"I feel that I am guilty of one thing, protecting Leeds United since I took charge of the club. I ask the players, manager and my staff to continue to work with loyalty and professionalism and to keep fighting for the club everyday on and off the pitch."

Also See:

The FA has also fined authorised agent Derek Day £75,000 "in relation to the same matter".

Day has been banned for 18 months with immediate effect, although 11 months of the ban are suspended for two years.

Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get six months half price.

Around Sky