In this week’s Premier League Review we look how the International break was not a quiet one at White Heart Lane as Tottenham Hotspur fired manager Antonio Conte and then realized that Director of Football Fabio Paratici had to serve a 30-month worldwide ban.
Conte was sacked following his stunning rant at owner Daniel Levy and the club’s trophy record after a 3-3 Premier League draw with Southampton on March 18:
“I think it’s better to go into the problem, we are not a team. We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart [into it]. This season compared to last, now we are worse in this aspect. When you are not a team you cannot improve.”
He later went on to add: “It is easy in this way [playing without pressure or importance]. Tottenham’s story is this, 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here.”
Spurs official statement reads:
“We can announce that Head Coach Antonio Conte has left the Club by mutual agreement. We achieved Champions League qualification in Antonio’s first season at the Club. We thank Antonio for his contribution and wish him well for the future.
“Cristian Stellini will take the team as Acting Head Coach for the remainder of the season, along with Ryan Mason as Assistant Head Coach.”
As for Fabio Paratici, Spurs learnt this week that Fifa had extended his 30-month ban from Italian football to have “worldwide effect. Spurs have said they were given “no advance notice” from world football’s governing body.
In January, Juventus were deducted 15 points for the season by an Italian football court investigating the club’s transfer dealings and finances. The court also imposed bans on a number of the club’s officials.
These included a 30-month ban for former sports director, Paratici, who joined Spurs in 2021 following an 11-year stint at Juventus.
The Paratici news could not have come at a worse time for Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy and the club. Paratici would typically be working on this summer’s transfer activity plus leading the search for Conte’s replacement at the moment. But that is all up in the air, leaving Tottenhamm Hotpsur looking like a club in shambles to many.
