I personally think the FL would have been inclined to have shooed Cellino in had it not been for the firestorm of criticism (largely from Leeds fans, including me) when his hat was originally thrown into the ring – criticism that whereas it had previously never failed anyone on the 'fit and proper persons' test, now was the time for it to stand up and be counted. After the blaze of publicity caused by the sacking that never was, suddenly the FL was under scrutiny from public and the media. It HAD to be seen to (for once) make a fair judgment based on its own criteria, the main thrust being that anyone with a conviction unspent (as Cellino suddenly now had) was ineligible to own (or buy) a club. I think the FL's perfect outcome has been realised: namely that it has been seen to do everything in its power to abide by its own rules, despite being overruled by Queen's Council, and it thereby can claim to have acted with integrity. I believe the FL will NOT appeal because, firstly, there is no longer an FL conspiracy against Leeds (Alan Hardaker died a long time ago) and, second, the legal costs would frighten the men in suits. I think it's safe to say that Massimo is here to stay and most of the fans are happy to have him.
Everyone's a winner.
Everyone's a winner
posted on 6/4/14
good
posted on 6/4/14
FL, in appointing Shaun Harvey as their CEO, said everything about their own "integrity", imo.
posted on 6/4/14
I agree Lorra that there's a lot who win from this. Mainly
the fans of LUFC and Massimo himself. GFH get bailed out too.
But, I wish people would back off on the whole MC was 'convicted' line of talk. He actually was ruled against by the Sardinian court subject to two more appeals. Which is the Italian justice system's way. People over here are measuring that ruling (which was I believe a trumped up technicality) by the English justice system criteria. They shouldn't. MC is actually still innocent in the eyes of the Italian courts. Granted, the two higher courts may still uphold what the Sardinian court ruled. But they could also throw it out. Which I think will happen.
posted on 6/4/14
In fairness to the FL (who admittedly have rarely done Leeds any favours) they were damned if they had and damned if they hadn't ruled against Cellino. I'd be interested to know if they picked up the costs for the appeal though. I guess it doesn't matter whether Cellino wins his Sardinian appeal in the sense that it won't affect his right to own a Football League club. It seems that once you're in, you're in.
posted on 6/4/14
Probably so Lorra. I'm also interested to see who got the final court costs?
posted on 6/4/14
In the UK, you have to live by the UK legal system. As such, the conviction is a conviction, and like any other, it remains a conviction until it is overturned by an appeal. Just because it works differently in Italy is irrelevant - we don't live in Italy.
Thankfully, he found that MC was not dishonest. That would be impossible to prove anyway now.
But if the Fl will use laypeople (who have neither the right nor the experience) to make legal judgments, they will come up against problems time and again in appeals. This will hurt the FL.
posted on 6/4/14
Long Short Tall, very good point you make - is it possible the FL failed to even take legal advice on this? Hard to believe, but then this is the Football League we're talking about...