MASSIMO CELLINO HAS won his appeal against a Football League decision to block his takeover of Championship club Leeds.
Cellino agreed a deal two months ago for the Miami-based Italian’s company, Eleonora Sport, to buy 75 per cent of Leeds’ shares.
But the controversial tycoon was disqualified under the League’s owners’ and directors’ test after being convicted of a tax offence last month in a court in Sardinia.
The offence related to the non-payment of import duties on his yacht and resulted in a fine of €600,000 and the confiscation of the boat.
Cellino’s lawyers had argued that because the Cagliari owner had appealed against his tax conviction, he is considered not guilty under Italian law. That appeal process could take up to nine months.
A Football League statement on Saturday read: “An independent QC has overturned the decision by the Board of The Football League that Massimo Cellino is subject to a disqualifying condition under its Owners’ and Directors’ Test.
“This was never about individual personalities, but instead was a matter in which we were obliged to uphold the integrity of our regulations having considered the issue in detail with our advisors.
“It was always an extremely complex matter in which a different interpretation of a judgment made under Italian law could lead to an entirely different outcome in the context of our regulations. Ultimately this has proven to be the case.
“The independent QC has concluded that Mr Cellino’s recent conviction in the Sardinian Court did not involve conduct that would ‘reasonably be considered to be dishonest’ based on information available to him at the current time.
“The Football League will now consider the findings of the hearing.”
Leeds manager Brian McDermott, who Cellino attempted to sack at the end of January, welcomed the appeal victory.
“I would recommend the stability of a man who has got clout,” said McDermott after his side’s 1-0 defeat at Wigan on Saturday.
“I’ve spoken to him on a number of occasions and, for me, the most important thing is not the position of the manager, or any individual player, it’s Leeds United Football Club and that going forward.
“I can work with Massimo, we’ll see just wait and see what the outcome is. It’s a prerogative of any owner, in any situation, to choose the manager he wants to work with. I absolutely respect that.
“From what I know he’s a leader, he’s had a club for 22 years and he’s been consistent with that.
“From what I know he has clout, he has financial clout. Which is something we possibly haven’t had for many, many years.”
- © AFP 2014.
