April 21 – Just weeks after manager Antonio Conte left the club, Tottenham Hotspur’s season was plunged into further chaos today when director of football Fabio Paratici (pictured) resigned after his appeal against a 30-month ban over his role in alleged false accounting in transfer dealings when he was at Juventus was rejected by Italy’s top sport court.
Paratici’s ban from working in Italy had already been extended worldwide by FIFA in March and his position at Tottenham depended, crucially, on the outcome of his appeal.
The 50-year-old, who joined Tottenham in 2021 following an 11-year stint at Juve, had recently stepped back from his position pending the court’s ruling.
“FIFA ruled to extend the ban worldwide and, whilst there continues to be a dispute as to the scope and extent of the ban, the current worldwide ban prevents Fabio from fulfilling his duties as our Managing Director of Football,” Tottenham said in a statement.
“Fabio has consequently taken the decision to resign from his position at the club with immediate effect to focus on his legal position in respect of the FIGC and FIFA rulings.”
Paratici’s case was heard by Italy’s top sports body within the Italian Olympic Committee, which issued its judgements on Thursday. While it annulled a previous decision to dock Juventus 15 points, ordering authorities to hold a new hearing, it upheld the original ban on a several key former Juve officials including Paratici.
His departure adds to the mounting uncertainty surrounding Spurs, who are already searching for a new manager for next season after parting ways with Conte last month.
Since his departure, Conte’s deputy, Christian Stellini, has been interim manager but is not expected to remain.
Time is now of the essence for Tottenham and their controversial chairman Daniel Levy. The longer they delay the appointments of a new manager and a sporting director, the more arduous it will be to prepare the club for next season – not least trying to hold on to England captain Harry Kane, one of the world’s most sought-after players but increasingly frustrated at the club’s lack of silverware.
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