Juventus deducted 10 points after initial penalty revised
Published
May 23, 2023 at 3:05 AM
ROME – Juventus were on Monday docked 10 points for the current Serie A season after a new ruling by an Italian football court in a case centred on the club’s transfer dealings, Italy’s Football Association (FIGC) said.
Following a 4-1 loss at Empoli on Monday, leaving Juve with two matches to play this season, the deduction pushes the Turin club – who are Italy’s most successful football team – down from second to seventh place in the top-flight standings on 59 points.
That means the Bianconeri are out of the qualifying spots for next season’s lucrative European competitions.
After Monday’s ruling – based on charges that the club artificially inflated the values of players as part of false accounting practices – Juve said in a statement they “take note” of the decision by the football court.
They added that they “reserve the right” to file a new appeal at Italy’s Sports Guarantee Board.
The FIGC court also issued non-guilty verdicts for seven ex-Juventus executives, including former vice-chairman and midfielder Pavel Nedved.
Juve were handed a 15-point penalty in January. It was later scrapped by the country’s top sports body, which ordered football authorities to hold a new hearing that resulted in Monday’s decision.
In the hearing that preceded the latest ruling, a football prosecutor had asked for Juve to have 11 points deducted, according to two sources close to the matter.
Juve, controlled by Exor, the holding company of Italy’s Agnelli family, may face potential further sporting penalties – including more points deductions – in a separate case.
The FIGC is conducting another case over alleged irregularities in the club’s payments to players as well as undue relationships with players’ agents and other clubs.
The FIGC last week ordered a new sport trial against Juventus. A hearing is scheduled for June 15, according to ANSA news. It is not yet clear if any potential penalties, which could be applied in this new sport trial, will affect the current Serie A season or the next one.
Inquiries by sports authorities were triggered by investigations from criminal prosecutors in Turin, where the club is based, in a case regarding alleged false accounting.
As part of this case, Juventus, former chairman Andrea Agnelli and 11 other people risk standing trial.
The club have denied any wrongdoing and insisted that their accounting is in line with industry standards. REUTERS
