Cellino ban suspended by Football League

Massimo Cellino will continue in his role as the
president of Leeds United for the time being after a
ruling from the Football League.

Leeds United president Massimo Cellino will be allowed to
continue in his role for the immediate future after the Football
League suspended his ban pending an appeal.

Cellino was disqualified by the Football League - for the second
time - last month for an offence under Italian law relating to non-
payment of VAT on the importation of a Land Rover vehicle.

The club president subsequently appealed the ban, and on
Friday the Football League released a statement declaring that
Cellino would be able to resume his duties at Elland Road until
the case was resolved.

"The Football League can confirm that Leeds United president
Massimo Cellino has had his disqualification under The Football
League's Owner's and Directors' Test stayed by the League
Arbitration Panel appointed to hear his appeal - enabling Mr
Cellino to continue in his present capacity at the club until the
appeal process has concluded," the statement read.

"This will not affect the length of any disqualification served by
Mr Cellino in the event that he League's decision is upheld, as
he would then be required to serve a period equivalent to that
which he would have served had he chosen not to appeal the
matter.

"This would equate to 223 days, which is the length of time
between his disqualification becoming effective (November 12,
2015) and his tax conviction in Italy becoming spent under
English law (June 22, 2016)."

It is the second time Cellino has been banned by the Football
League, having been disqualified in December 2014 after being
found guilty by a court in Cagliari of the non-payment of import
duties on a boat.