The Football Association have banned Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino from all football activities for 18 months and fined him a whopping £250,000.
 

The patron has been charged with breaching the FA’s agent rules over the sale of Ross McCormack to Fulham in 2014. Cellino’s ban will start on February 1 2017 but the Italian has already stated that he will appeal against the decision. In a statement, the FA declared that:
 

“Mr Cellino has been suspended for 18 months from being a director or shadow director of Leeds United or any other football club or company whose activities include ownership of a football club. By 30 April 2017, he is to attend and complete an FA education programme covering the duties and responsibilities of an owner and director of an English football club."  

The story was first reported by the Daily Mail on Wednesday which prompted Cellino to issue a statement on the club’s website explaining that he was; “surprised to hear about the FA's intentions" and that he was only guilty of "protecting Leeds United".

It’s been a controversial time for the West Yorkshire club since Cellino took over in April 2014; this latest breach of FA rules is the third time the former Cagliari owner has been banned. If the decision is upheld he will away from Elland Road until September 2018.

This could raise more speculation about his future at the helm after Calciomercato.com reported that he was ready to sell the club to fellow countryman and media mogul Andrea Radrizzani.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler