Ex-Watford chairman Raffaele Riva suspended indefinitely by EFL over forged bank letter

Riva has also been fined £50,000 and is to pay a further £65,000 in costs to the EFL

Watford had their fine reduced from £5.75m to £3.95m plus £350,000 costs for their co-operation (Getty Images)

Former Watford chairman Raffaele Riva has been banned from English football indefinitely after he admitted to breaching regulations over submitting a forged letter to the English Football League (EFL) in 2014.

An EFL disciplinary commission said the funding letter submitted during the club's change of ownership to Gino Pozzo was "not authentic".

The EFL confirmed Riva would not be able to seek a review of the suspension until at least 2 November 2026.

Riva has also been fined £50,000 and must pay a further £65,000 towards the costs of the EFL and the disciplinary commission hearing.

The EFL said in a statement: [A] disciplinary commission, appointed under EFL Regulations, has ruled that former Watford Football Club Chairman, Raffaele Riva, is to be suspended from participation in a club as a 'relevant person' indefinitely, with Mr Riva being unable to seek a review of such suspension until at least 2 November 2026."

Watford were fined £4.3m by the EFL last August over the forged letter.

Reuters