Fabio Paratici ‘appeals to FIFA against his worldwide ban from football after Tottenham exit’

Fabio Paratici has reportedly appealed to FIFA over his two-and-a-half-year global football ban.

The Italian was handed a 30-month suspension for “financial malpractice” that originally only applied to Italian football, before the global governing body confirmed it would be expanded across the world.

Paratici has since agreed to step down from his role as Tottenham’s managing director of football, and now Sky Sports have revealed he plans to appeal his suspension.

The Italian addressed the Spurs side last month before agreeing with the club that he would take “an immediate leave of absence pending the outcome of an appeal”.

He was hit by his initial suspension from the Italian Football Federation in January when he was one of 11 former Juventus managers penalized for false accounting.

Paratici (left) has stepped down from his role as sporting director at Tottenham Hotspur since news of the suspension

Cristian Stellini has been left to pick up pieces at the north London club following news of Paratici and the departure of Antonio Conte.

Conte left the club during the recent international break after his last appearance for Spurs was the scathing interview he gave after they threw away a 3-1 lead against Southampton.

Paratici’s suspension has added to the turmoil at Spurs, who were blindsided by FIFA’s decision, with Stellini recently admitting: “(It was) a bit chaotic, definitely a bit chaotic.”

Juventus were docked 15 points in January from the ‘Prisma’ inquiry after they were found guilty of false accounting in relation to transfer transactions, which saw several current and former club executives handed a suspension.

Paratici’s suspension was the longest suspension imposed on the 12 persons penalized.

He spent 11 years at Juventus from 2010 to 2021, including an important stint as sporting director, before joining Spurs that summer.

Paratici was one of 12 ex-Juventus officials sanctioned following the Prisma investigation, including ex-President Andrea Agnelli (second from left) and Vice-President Pavel Nedved (L)

Tottenham’s problems were compounded by the departure of Antonio Conte as manager last month

The 50-year-old spent 11 years at Juventus and joined Tottenham in the summer of 2021.

After the Prisma investigation, former president Andrea Agnelli and CEO Maurizio Arrivabene, who were suspended for two years, excluded other executives.

Elsewhere, vice president and former player Pavel Nedved was given an eight-month suspension.

Paratici and Juventus have denied any wrongdoing and an appeal against the sanctions introduced by the Italian Football Federation – which include point deductions and individual suspensions – will be heard by the Italian Olympic Committee on April 19.

Tottenham said in a club statement last month: ‘This week – 29 March 2023 – the FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced a decision to extend the sanctions imposed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) worldwide in relation to Fabio Paratici.

This decision was made ahead of Fabio Paratici’s hearing against the FIGC sanctions on April 19, 2023, the outcome of which would have subsequently been considered by other stakeholders, including the club.

Given FIFA’s unexpected ruling, the sanctions may now have multi-jurisdictional implications, although they are still related to the FIGC’s appeal.

“In view of FIFA’s decision, Fabio has agreed with the club that he will take immediate leave pending the outcome of his appeal.”