EXCLUSIVE: FA investigation into Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could be set to collapse

THE FA's 'bung' investigation into Massimo Cellino is in danger of collapsing after their star witness withdrew his evidence against the Leeds owner.

By Jeremy Cross, Chief Sports Writer       

The FA's case against Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could be about to collapse

The FA have spent more than 12 months investigating allegations Cellino paid a backhander to an agent during Ross McCormack's £10.75m switch to Fulham in 2014.

Cellino was summoned to a hearing at Wembley last month after being charged over an alleged £185,000 payment to McCormack's advisor Barry Hughes, via licensed agent Derek Day.

Hughes is not a licensed agent and FA rules forbid payments to unlicensed player representatives.

FA bosses persuaded former Leeds administrator Graham Bean to attend the hearing and give evidence against Cellino in the hope it would help them find the Italian guilty.

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could have no case to answer

But Starsport can reveal Bean has now withdrawn his statement following a dispute with the FA over unpaid expenses.

Bean insists the FA promised to reimburse him travel, hotel and loss of earnings costs - but have now gone back on their word.

Bean, who is self-employed, has not been paid and is now taking legal action against the FA.

The FA have informed Leeds of the stunning development, which could now leave Cellino with no case to answer.

The controversial Cellino was facing a possible ban and hefty fine if found guilty of the charges.

Allegations against Massimo Cellino stem from a payment made during Ross McCormack's transfer

There is no suggestion of wrong-doing by McCormack and the FA charged Cellino, Leeds and Day in May following a lengthy and exhaustive probe into them allegedly breaching their rules on football agents.

Cellino and Day insisted they had done nothing wrong, but it is understood Bean provided FA investigators with a dossier of damning evidence against the duo.

But the whole investigation could now fall down and become a huge embarrassment to the FA just because of their refusal to settle Bean's financial requirements.

Starsport contacted the FA but no-one was available for comment.