Italian court finds Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino not guilty of tax evasion

An Italian court has cleared Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino of not paying taxes in his home country for a second time.

Cellino was ordered to pay €40k (£31.7k) for non-payment of import duty on a Range Rover he’d imported to Sardinia from the United States.

As a result of the case, last October the Football League bannedCellino from having any role in the ownership or executive running of Leeds until the offence expired.

Cellino, however, was able to continue his role as owner of the Championship club until an appeal over his ban is considered.

Since the case has now been dismissed and Cellino is clear of breaking any Italian tax law, the Football League’s ban could also be lifted.

This is the second occasion the Italian owner has been cleared of tax evasion. In December 2015, he was acquitted of not paying taxes during his time as Cagliari owner, in a case related to the transfers of former Cagliari players Edgar Alvarez and Joe Bizera back in 2007.

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