Football League: Cellino Disqualified

Post by **YorkshireSquare** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:12 pm

The Board of Directors of The Football League has, once again, considered the position of Leeds United President, Massimo Cellino, under its Owners' and Directors' Test.

Previously (March 2014), the Board had ruled that Mr. Cellino was subject to a disqualifying condition after he was found guilty of an offence under Italian tax legislation relating to the non-payment of import duties on a boat (which resulted in him being fined €600,000). In April 2014, this decision was successfully appealed by Mr. Cellino at a hearing of the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) chaired by an independent QC (sitting alone).

In reaching his verdict, Tim Kerr QC concluded that: “Mr Cellino has satisfied me that on the facts before me, what he was convicted of was not conduct which would reasonably be considered to be dishonest.” Before going on to state that: “if the reasoned ruling of the court in Cagliari discloses that the conduct of Mr Cellino was such that it would reasonably be considered to be dishonest, he would become subject to a Disqualifying Condition.”

At its meeting last week, the Board considered the reasoned Judgment of the Italian Court against Mr. Cellino, having successfully applied to the Italian Courts for its full disclosure. The Board considered detailed legal advice and agreed unanimously (with the exception of its Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, who did not take part in the debate or vote having declared an interest*) that Mr. Cellino is subject to a disqualifying condition under the terms of the Test.

Mr. Cellino is entitled to appeal the Board's decision to the PCC within 14 days. As the Judgment of the Italian Court has not been published in Italy, The Football League will not make any of its contents public.

Additionally, the Board concluded that it was appropriate to ask an independent Football Disciplinary Commission (FDC) to consider whether Mr Cellino and/or Leeds United breached League regulations relating to the timely disclosure of relevant information. The matter will be heard by an FDC in due course.

*Shaun Harvey was Chief Executive and a Director of Leeds United between 2004 and 2013.

http://www.football-league.co.uk/news/a ... 15682.aspx

The Subhuman · Post by **The Subhuman** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:24 pm

so what happens now?...

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:25 pm

Oh bugger.

Post by **1964white** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:29 pm

There goes the £20m cash injection up the creek

The authorities have really got it in for LUFC, could only happen at Leeds

The Subhuman · Post by **The Subhuman** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:30 pm

Martyn wrote:Oh bugger.

good news for you surely?

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:38 pm

faaip wrote:

good news for you surely?

Not remotely mate, it's true I'm not a Cellino fan but the last thing I want is more bloody chaos in our club. I'd rather we didn't have a fraudster as owner, but he's not as bad as Bates was.

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:42 pm

So it seems to go like this:

1. FL can demand that he stands down as a director of the club - but I doubt they can force him to sell his shares
2. On March 17th 2015 the conviction is deemed spent so he can be reappointed a director
3. There are two more court cases looming for tax evasion - another yacht and a Range Rover
4. Either or both of them could lead to another conviction for dishonesty which would disqualify him
5. He is due to pay GFH several million quid in the next coupe of weeks

As BA posted last week, there are rumours of TOMA 457238 already.

Is this where he walks away?

Post by **1964white** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:46 pm

Or his son could take the reins until March

The Subhuman · Post by **The Subhuman** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:56 pm

puppet director...just ignore the football league.

The Subhuman · Post by **The Subhuman** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:02 pm

Meanwhile isn't Carson Yeung still Chairman and Owner over at Birmingham- from behind the bars of a prison cell for what must a year +now!

Post by **1964white** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:06 pm

faaip wrote:Meanwhile isn't Carson Yeung still Chairman and Owner over at Birmingham- from behind the bars of a prison cell for what must a year +now!

Difference is they are Birmingham City & we are Leeds United

Genghers · Post by **Genghers** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:12 pm

Can't say I'm surprised they've managed to do this, they've had it in for Cellino since the day he took over from (the much much more dodgy/damaging for the club) GFH.

I doubt Cellino is going to walk away after the amount he's reportedly invested.

If the fit and proper persons test is in place to protect clubs from improper management, then I'm pretty sure the football league fails it - if there's no loophole to exploit for us then there is nothing more damaging to the club and our season than going through another takeover.

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:18 pm

I'm quite sure he can keep the appeals process going until March - IF he has the stomach for it.

To do that he would also have to be pretty certain that he will be acquitted on the next two tax evasion charges too, for the yacht and the Range Rover, otherwise he is only delaying the inevitable.

Ricb76 · Post by **Ricb76** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:20 pm

Wonder if he could just pay the tax.....?

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:24 pm

Ricb76 wrote:Wonder if he could just pay the tax.....?

Against his principles.

He may have to look at one of the four companies that offered him a billion pounds for us back in the summer.

Genghers · Post by **Genghers** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:41 pm

Statement form Cellino:

The club is not for sale, We are not selling the club, not because of this. This doesn't change anything.

Massimo Cellino does not own Leeds. My family company owns Leeds. It is my family’s money which bought the club, not my money.

I don’t know if I’ll appeal. I need to speak with my lawyers and look through all the papers to see what the League has said about me. What is their problem? We pay our bills, we do things right. Nobody was paying anything here when I bought the club. What did the League do about that?

If my family company asks me to step back for two or three months then I’ll step back. If that has to happen then I’ll do it. But we won’t be selling the club.

I would not be investing capital if I was about to leave, I'm trying to sort out the problems that were left behind.

The League wants me gone, I don’t know why, but I've said before - come and look through the books at Leeds. We are not dishonest people.

Some may disagree with that last sentence, considering he's been found guilty of tax evasion, but I think what he's saying is fair enough (and quite reassuring to me).

ldsutd · Post by **ldsutd** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:28 pm

Just heard him on sky sports and says he is putting 20mil into club and gfh are putting 5mil into club and they are going nowhere. If FL say he can't attend the Leeds games as owner he will buy a ticket and sit in the stands with the fans if need be. He also said everyone hates Leeds and everyone is against us lol, I think Cellino will just drag out the appeal.

Armleywhite · Post by **Armleywhite** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:37 pm

Well. It appears the people did get what they wanted. They clamoured for the monetary success mc could bring but at what cost now eh? Am I happy? Nope. Am I surprised? Nope. Am I upset? Not really. I always thought summat like this was coming. Just another day at he office for Leeds United it appears.

Gurj · Post by **Gurj** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 6:08 pm

From what I can tell from what I've read, the appeal has to heard within 28 days of Cellino requesting it and he has the next 14 days to do that. So max of 42 days from now. So around Jan 11th at the latest.

Martyn · Post by **Martyn** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 6:23 pm

Gurj wrote:From what I can tell from what I've read, the appeal has to heard within 28 days of Cellino requesting it and he has the next 14 days to do that. So max of 42 days from now. So around Jan 11th at the latest.

True, but he has previously claimed he would appeal it "to the highest court in the land", so if he thinks he can get it to the Supreme Court that could take many months if not years