Tottenham’s Paratici resigns over ban; weekend team news and more: football – live | Football | The Guardian

Why are Tottenham a crisis club? It’s been confirmed that Fabio Paratici has left the club, having failed to overturn a worldwide ban.

Paratici’s ban relates to his time at Juventus, who were found guilty of false accounting. He and the club have denied wrongdoing. On Thursday Juventus had their 15-point penalty suspended pending a new trial.

No manager, no sporting director, and Harry Kane unsettled. This is the story of the Tottenham.

The weekend starts here, as they say, and it’s a big weekend, too. Time was when FA Cup fixtures dominated a weekend but this is the era of the Premier League dominating everything, including the Champions League.

Let’s start with those semis: Sheffield United v Manchester City represents a huge task for Paul Heckingbottom’s team, and a win could be the greatest FA Cup semi shock of all time. (Email in for other candidates.) City are that good. Meanwhile, it would be little shock to see Brighton v Manchester United go to the South Coast club.

Before all that, the Premier League title is on the line, Arsenal v Southampton, and relegation, too. Saturday kicks off with Fulham v Leeds, the latter desperate for points. Then comes a decent rack of 3pm kick-offs. Brentford v Aston Villa sees Unai Emery’s team chase down Europe against opposition rather losing their way of late. Crystal Palace v Everton see Sean Dyche’s team back in the mire and needing a result. The same goes for Dean Smith’s team in Leicester v Wolves and Steve Cooper’s in Liverpool v Nottingham Forest.

Sunday’s Premier League encounters both kick off at 2pm, with Gary O’Neil hoping David Moyes’ team are leggy for Bournemouth v West Ham. And Eddie Howe’s team can complete the double over this week’s crisis club (Chelsea have the weekend off) in Newcastle v Tottenham.