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Daniel Levy faces a full-scale management crisis at Spurs with the 30-month ban given to managing director Fabio Paratici by the Italian FA for his time at Juventus likely to apply to the Premier League as well as concerns persist on the future of Antonio Conte.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy appears to have a full-scale management crisis on his hands with legal experts saying FIFA is likely to ensure that the 30-month suspension imposed by the Italian FA on director general of football Fabio Paratici also applies to the Premier League.
With manager Antonio Conte growing disgruntled (he asked Paratici last week to take more responsibility for Tottenham’s woes), it looks like Tottenham’s two Italians will be leaving for the summer.
Paratici has been handed a 30-month ban by the Italian FA for his time at Juventus, with the club said to have overestimated the value of transfer fees to circumvent financial rules. The club and Paratici deny this and have said they will appeal the penalties and the deduction of 15 points to Juventus.
Tottenham managing director Fabio Paratici’s ban is likely to apply to the Premier League
Friday’s ruling was an appeal after the initial verdict acquitted the club and the people involved and the reasons have not yet been published in writing. Juventus also faces a civil case in Italy and a UEFA investigation into the claims.
The Italian FA have now asked FIFA to ensure Paratici’s ban is enforced worldwide and while Tottenham can argue against that and at least called for the ban to be postponed until heard again In the case, soccer legal expert and KC Nick De Marco said FIFA generally stands behind the federation and enforces bans around the world.
“It’s not automatic and there is a chance to challenge him at FIFA level but it’s very difficult,” De Marco said. ‘We challenge [former Leeds’ owner] Massimo Cellino’s 12-month ban from the FA when he went to Italy, but FIFA didn’t change it.
Daniel Levy faces management crisis at Tottenham amid concerns about Paratici
There is also uncertainty regarding Antonio Conte, increasingly discontent
If they don’t have a director of football and if Conte is leaving, Spurs will have to start their rebuild all over again.
One of Paratici’s main selling points when he arrived in 2021 was his relationship with Conte, but he initially failed to bring him to the club as Jose Mourinho’s replacement, settling for Nuno Espirito Santo.
When that date fell through, Levy and Paratici turned to Conte last season, with early success reaching the Champions League.
But Spurs face Fulham on Monday after losing three of their last four league games and are six points out of fourth place, despite a £150m investment in the summer.