Juventus gets hit with a fresh 10-point penalty by an Italian court – reducing their chances of ever making it to the UEFA Champions League next season, Italy’s Football Association said.
The recent punishment for the club’s falsification of its account in the club’s transfer dealings reduced the club from second position in Serie A to seventh.
Following the declaration by the football association, Juventus were already at the detriment of a 4-1 result in their game against Empoli. There remain two matches in the Serie A season including a tense face-off against AC Milan as Juventus try to avoid missing the Champions League for the first time in 11 seasons.
However, Juventus retorted by saying they are aware of the court injunction and reserve the right to file a new appeal against it as Italy’s top sports body.
In January, Max Allegri’s side was handed a 15-point deduction while several members of the Old Lady’s former board were issued bans from soccer related activities, including former president Andrea Agnelli.
The penalty was overruled last month on an appeal to the country’s highest sport court and referred back to the soccer federation’s appeal court for a new trial.
The Hearing
During a three-hour hearing, federation prosecutor Guiseppe Chine demanded for an 11-points penalty, though he asked for nine back in January.
He also requested that seven former directors be banned for eight months but they overruled on Monday. Agnelli and three others had their appeals rejected last month.
The Scandal Vs Resignation
The Juventus board resigned in their multitude in November as a follow-up to an investigation by the Turin prosecutors which led to the points deductions. Juventus had previously been cleared by the sports court the previous April.
The prosecutors in Turin have charged Juventus, Agnelli and 11 others for falsifying communication, obstruction of watchdog agencies and market manipulations.
Crisis Deepens
Juventus was further plunged into crisis last week after the Italian soccer federation also charged the club alongside seven former team directors with alleged fraud for the manner in which they handled player salary cuts during the coronavirus pandemic.
Serie A Standing
Lazio, who have replaced Juve in second place, will qualify for the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2020 and only the second time since 2007 after Juventus failed to beat Empoli.
Inter Milan, who moved into third, Atalanta and Roma have all also jumped one place in the Serie A standings.
Serie A Standings
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