The Football League blocked Massimo Cellino from taking control of Leeds United yesterday after the Italian was fined for tax evasion, throwing the English second tier club into turmoil.

Cellino, president of Serie A club Cagliari, had agreed to buy a 75 per cent stake in former English champions Leeds but the deal was conditional on clearance by the Football League.

Dubai-based GFH Capital, who bought Leeds in December 2012, had planned to retain a 25 per cent stake in the club had the deal been ratified.

However, the League’s board disqualified Cellino from acting as a club director after an Italian court fined him €600,000 this month for failing to pay import duties on a yacht.

The English soccer authorities have been under pressure to take a tougher line on scrutinising club owners after Birmingham City boss Carson Yeung was jailed in Hong Kong earlier this month for money laundering.

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