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Tottenham Hotspur’s managing director of football, Fabio Paratici, will be forced to step down from his position after FIFA extended the ban imposed on him by the Italian FA for his involvement in Juventus’ false accounting scandal. Juventus was docked 15 league points in January as a result of a long-running investigation, and Paratici, along with several former and current executives, received lengthy bans from the federal court of appeal. Initially, Paratici’s 30-month ban only applied to Italian football, but FIFA’s decision means the ban will now have a global impact.
Paratici, who joined Spurs in 2021, has denied any wrongdoing, and Juventus and Paratici have appealed the decision. However, with FIFA’s recent move, Tottenham will now have to look for a new managing director of football as they seek a replacement for Antonio Conte, who left the club by mutual consent on Sunday.
Tottenham call it ‘the right decision’
On Tuesday, Tottenham released an extended interview with Paratici, in which he stated that Conte’s departure was “the right decision” and urged everyone at the club to focus on ending the season on a high note. However, following the update regarding Paratici’s ban, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust called for clarity from the club and raised concerns about the future of star player Harry Kane, whose contract expires in June 2024. The trust stated, “This news adds further to the extremely concerning situation at the club. No manager, no director of football, and uncertainty around our star player and our end-of-season finish. Fans deserve to hear a clear statement of strategy.”
In the midst of all this uncertainty, Tottenham’s star forward Son Heung-min expressed his sadness over Conte’s departure and stated that he feels responsible for it. He acknowledged that he should have played better and helped the club more, adding that Conte was a world-class coach, and they had a great journey together.
Overall, Paratici’s ban extension and the subsequent call for clarity from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust highlight the need for the club to address its situation and provide a clear statement of strategy for the future. With no manager, no director of football, and uncertainty surrounding the future of their star player, Tottenham will need to act quickly to ensure a successful end to the season and plan for the long term.
