May 31 – Paris St-Germain’s Brazilian sporting director Leonardo has been given a nine-month suspension for pushing a referee, the worst possible timing for the club who are trying to hold on to their manager Carlo Ancelotti as they push towards becoming an established member of Europe’s elite.
Leonardo was filmed using his shoulder to make contact with Alexandre Castro in the Parc des Princes tunnel after being angered by Thiago Silva’s red card in PSG’s 1-1 home draw with Valenciennes on May 5. The ban takes effect from May 8
The 43-year-old Brazilian denied the charge saying he was pushed in the back towards the referee by the match delegate and that contact was accidental. PSG are appealing against the decision made by the disciplinary committee of the French federation, the LFP.
The ban will cover “the bench, the referee’s dressing room and all official functions”. The Qatari-owned French champions were also given a suspended three-point deduction for next season.
The club said in a statement: “In the light of the material elements submitted to the members of the disciplinary committee, Paris St-Germain considers this decision to be unjustified and extremely harsh. “
Leonardo, who won the World Cup in 1994, will be ruled out for most of next season, a blow to PSG, who already to have a fight on their hands to keep hold of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti met with PSG chief Nasser al-Khelaifi and Leonardo last weekend asking to be to be released from the final year of his contract so he could move to Real Madrid, where a vacancy has this week. Khelaifi is insisting the 54-year-old must honour the remaining year of his contract.
“Yes, we had discussions, he asked to depart for Real Madrid,” Khelaifi told beinsport.fr. “I said it is not possible because he has a contract for one year more, so that is our decision.”
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