Fabio Paratici ban: Sporting director returns to Tottenham Hotspur after 30-month Fifa ban

Tottenham Hotspur have announced that Fabio Paratici will return to his role as sporting director, two and a half years after he was banned by FIFA.

BBC Sport reported in May that talks were ongoing about a possible return for the 53-year-old player.

Paratici will take on the role of joint sporting director with Johan Lange and will oversee Spurs’ men’s football strategy, including performance development, scouting and recruitment.

He resigned from his post in April 2023 after his appeal against a 30-month FIFA ban over financial irregularities was rejected by Italy’s highest sports court.

The Italian football player was banned after Juventus, where he served as sporting director and general director before joining Tottenham in 2021, was found guilty of false accounting and was deducted 10 points from Serie A.

Last month, a judge in Rome accepted a plea bargain request from Paratici and other former Juventus managers, meaning he would not face an 18-month prison sentence.

Plea agreements in Italy do not include admissions of guilt or acceptance of responsibility.

“I’m happy to return to the club I love,” Paratici said.

“Johan, I work with Vinai [Venkatesham] and thomas [Frank] I have been a consultant for several months and am now looking forward to returning to London and joining the team full time.

“I believe that by working together with Johan we can build a special future for the club and our fans.”

Tottenham will complete its new leadership structure by hiring a director of football operations who will work alongside Paratici and Lange.

Until then, the club’s women’s team will remain under Venkatesham’s direct control.