Fabio Paratici has stepped down from his role as Tottenham's managing director, pending the outcome of his appeal against a worldwide ban.
The Spurs chief was given a 30-month ban from Italian football in January after his former club, Juventus, were found guilty of false accounting. Paratici and Juventus both appealed against FIFA's ruling.
That was before FIFA this week extended his suspension "to have worldwide effect" and prompted Tottenham to seek 'urgent further clarification' from football's global governing body, only adding to the chaos in North London following the departure of manager Antonio Conte.
"FIFA can confirm that following a request by the Italian FA (FIGC), the chairperson of Fifa disciplinary committee has decided to extend the sanctions imposed by FIGC on several football officials to have worldwide effect," a statement read.
Spurs said in their own statement: "This committee deliberation has been taken with no advance notice to any of the parties involved. We are urgently seeking further clarification from FIFA as to the details of the extension and its variance from the FIGC sanction."
The club added that they were only informed of FIFA's decision on Wednesday afternoon, saying: "We should like to make clear that when Fabio conducted the interview on club channels yesterday neither he nor the club had any indication of this decision being made by FIFA, based on the fact the the FIGC sanction was taken on 20 January 2023 and remains subject to an appeal on 19 April 2023."
As first reported by The Athletic, Paratici met Tottenham's first-team squad on Friday to explain his decision. The then-CEO had told Spurs' website prior to his ban being extended that he and the club were "focused" on moving forward together and finding a replacement for Conte, who left via mutual consent last Sunday.
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The Premier League club also explained that the decision had been taken "with no advance notice to any of the parties involved."
Cristian Stellini has been appointed Tottenham's interim manager for the final 10 games of their season, assisted by ex-Spurs midfielder Ryan Mason. Speaking at his first press conference since succeeding old colleague Conte, Stellini admitted that the week had been "absolutely a bit chaotic."
"But we have big shoulders to consider this type of situation," the Italian coach, formerly Conte's No.2, went on to say. "We had an international break and that helped because we have time to think about everything. The club and every one of us have to take a decision and the decision was taken for the best of everyone.
"No, it's not a club in crisis, absolutely not because everyone take the decision for the best and when you take the decision and you follow the process, you are not in crisis. If you have some matters, we have to be compact and stick together and go ahead and continue to move on and play the match."
