Off-the-pitch frustration continues for Leeds United supporters after the Championship club confirmed that chairman Massimo Cellino has had his ban suspending pending an appeal.

The controversial Italian businessman was issued with an 18-month suspension in December for breaching FA rules.

The violations are alleged to have been made during the sale of Ross McCormack to Fulham in 2014.

As a result, Cellino was hit with a £250,000 fine, and the club itself also had to front up with the same figure.

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The businessman, who sold 50% of his stake to Andrea Radrizzani earlier this month, was due to begin his suspension on February 1, but on Friday, the club announced in a statement that appeals have been launched.

"Mr Cellino has lodged an appeal to overturn the guilty verdict and any sanctions imposed upon Mr Cellino by the FA will be held/suspended until the appeal has been heard and a verdict has been found.

"We can also confirm that the club has lodged an appeal in relation to the sanctions that were imposed directly on us. We are confident that the appeals will be successful.The news came on the same day that the club sold Alex Mowatt to Barnsley for an undisclosed fee."

Some fans have speculated that the announcement regarding Cellino's suspended ban was to take the focus away from the club offloading one of their academy products.

Others took to Twitter to express their frustration at the continuing controversy at board level.

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