Massimo Cellino cleared of not paying VAT by Italian court
Monday 9 May 2016 18:19, UK
Massimo Cellino has been cleared by an Italian court of not paying VAT on a Range Rover he imported from the USA to Italy.
The Leeds owner had been ordered to pay a fine of €40,000 (£31,659), but the case has now been dismissed.
An Italian judge has ruled that the car should be returned to Cellino.
The case led to Cellino failing the Football League's owners' and directors' test last year, but the Italian was able to continue in his role as owner until an appeal over his disqualification is heard.
Cellino is in the middle of an arbitration process involving the Football Association but the decision in Italy to clear him of breaking Italian tax law could prevent the Football League from imposing its disqualification.
The Italian, who served a previous ownership disqualification during the second half of the 2014-15 season owing to a different tax offence, was informed of his latest ban in October.
