Former Paris Saint-Germain director of sport Leonardo has admitted that his 14-month ban for pushing referee Alexandre Castro is tough to deal with.

Leonardo said that because the ban stops him from advising the club or even playing football anywhere, he is losing sleep.

"It stops me from working completely," ESPN quotes Leonardo as saying. "I was supposed to become PSG coach, but the ban stops me sitting on the bench.

"I can't go to a club and tell them I can't do this or that. I can't even play in an amateur league anywhere in the world. It stops me sleeping.

"What motivates me is the actual ban, not only the way it was handed down. But because the CNOSF declared itself unable to judge me, I am obliged to focus on the procedure."

Leonardo's last club as a player was AC Milan.

Written by
Matt Domm