Tuesday, 18th March, 2014
The Football League has quickly addressed Massimo Cellino's guilty verdict in a tax evasion trial held in Italy earlier today.
Cellino is in the midst of taking over Championship side Leeds United, having agreed a deal with the club's current owners GFH Capital to purchase 75 per cent of the Yorkshire giants.
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However, the Football League has not yet given the green light to Cellino's takeover and the Italian businessman must still be passed as a fit and proper person to own a football club.
His guilty verdict and subsequent fine of €600,000 could affect that ruling; Cellino has vowed to appeal however against the punishment, handed out for the evasion of import duty on a boat.
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"The Football League has noted the outcome of the court hearing earlier regarding Massimo Cellino", the Football League announced in a statement.
"We are engaged in an ongoing dialogue with his legal representatives in this country and cannot comment further at this time."
It remains to be seen what the Football League will opt to do, however the organisation's owners and directors' test prevents anyone with an unspent conviction for dishonesty offences from being a director, controlling more than 30 per cent or exercising control over one of the clubs in the league.
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