Leeds United chairman Massimo Cellino can continue in his role at Elland Road after the Football League postponed his suspension while his appeal is heard.
The Football League recently banned Cellino from running Leeds for a period of 223 days, after he suffered a tax conviction in his native Italy, which meant he fell foul of the organisation's owners' and directors' test.
However, the businessman is appealing the Football League's decision and as such does not have to stand down from his role at Leeds until a verdict has been reached on his appeal. The Football League are clear though that if Cellino fails in his appeal then he will still need to serve the same amount of time disqualified.
In a statement the Football League announced: "The Football League can confirm that Leeds United President Massimo Cellino has had his disqualification under The Football League's Owners' 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."
And the statement added: "This will not affect the length of any disqualification served by Mr Cellino in the event that the League's decision is upheld, as he would be required to serve a period equivalent to that which he would have served had he chosen not to appeal the matter.
relatedNewsStory
"This would equate to 223 days, which is the length of time between his disqualification becoming effective (12th November, 2015) and his tax conviction in Italy becoming spent under English law (22nd June, 2016)."
Cellino has already served one Football League ban and was due to begin his new suspension yesterday. The Italian has been considering selling his majority stake in Leeds, but recently U-turned on a decision to offload it to supporter group Leeds Fans United.
