Tottenham have announced that managing director of football Fabio Paratici has taken a leave of absence after his Italian football ban was extended worldwide. The Spurs transfer chief was banned from football in his homeland due to his alleged involvement in malpractice at his former club Juventus.
FIFA announced this week that a disciplinary committee has extended Paratici’s ban worldwide, with major implications for Spurs. He is appealing the suspension.
The Premier League club has now confirmed that he will take a step back from his role. In a club statement, the North Londoners said: “This week – 29 March 2023 – the FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced a decision to extend the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sanctions, relating to Fabio Paratici, worldwide.
“This decision was taken in advance of Fabio Paratici’s appeal hearing against the FIGC sanctions on 19 April 2023, the result of which would then have been considered by additional stakeholders, including the club.
“Given FIFA’s unexpected ruling the sanctions may now have multi-jurisdictional effect, although they are still related to the FIGC appeal.
“In view of FIFA’s decision, Fabio has agreed with the club that he will take an immediate leave of absence pending the outcome of his appeal.”
According to The Athletic, Paratici met with Spurs’ players on Friday to explain the situation. The decision was then taken for the 50-year-old to step back from his role pending an appeal.
It comes amid a series of crises for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. As head of the club’s football operation, Paratici would have been key to searching for a successor to the sacked former head coach Antonio Conte.
The Italian may have also been playing a role in trying to convince star striker Harry Kane that his future lies in North London. Kane has just 18 months remaining on his deal, has not shown much desire to remain and has been linked with summer moves to Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Paratici was handed a 30-month ban from Italian football in January after Juventus were found guilty of false accounting. That ban was then extended by FIFA to a worldwide suspension last week. A decision over Paratici’s appeal is expected to be heard on April 19.
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