Daniel Levy faces full-scale management crisis at Tottenham amid concerns over Fabio Paratici

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy looks to have a full-scale management crisis on his hands with legal experts saying FIFA are likely to ensure the 30-month ban handed out by the Italian FA to Football Managing Director Fabio Paratici also applies to the Premier League.

With manager Antonio Conte increasingly disgruntled — only last week he called on Paratici to be more accountable for Tottenham’s troubles — it is beginning to look as though both Tottenham’s Italians will be gone by the summer.

Paratici has been hit with the 30-month ban by the Italian FA for his time at Juventus, with the club said to have overstated the value of transfer fees to get around financial rules. The club and Paratici deny that and have said they will appeal against the bans and the 15-point deduction for Juventus.

The ruling on Friday was an appeal after the initial verdict cleared the club and the individuals involved and the written reasons haven’t yet been published. Juventus is also facing a civil case in Italy and a UEFA investigation over the claims. 

FIFA have now been asked by the Italian FA to ensure Paratici’s ban applies worldwide and while Tottenham can argue against that and at least asked for the ban to be deferred until the case is heard again, football legal expert and KC Nick De Marco said that FIFA usually back the federation and apply bans across the globe.

‘It’s not automatic and there is the possibility of challenging it at FIFA level but is very difficult,’ said De Marco. ‘We challenged [former Leeds’ owner] Massimo Cellino’s 12-month ban from the FA when he went to Italy but FIFA did not alter it.’

Daniel Levy faces a management crisis at Tottenham amid concerns regarding Paratici

There is also uncertainty regarding Antonio Conte, who has become increasingly disgruntled

If they are without a football director and if Conte is on his way out, Spurs will have to start their rebuild once again. 

One of Paratici’s main selling points when he arrived in 2021 was his relationship with Conte but he initially failed to bring him to the club as Jose Mourinho’s replacement, settling instead for Nuno Espirito Santo.

When that appointment failed, Levy and Paratici turned to Conte last season, with early success in making the Champions League. 

But Spurs take on Fulham on Monday after losing three of their last four league games and are six points adrift of fourth, despite £150million of investment in the summer.